Pocono: Elliott's first of season

It marked the Dodge ace's fifth success at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania oval and was also his 42nd career win.

Rain delayed the start of the 500-mile race and NASCAR decided to cut the number of laps from 200 to 175 as darkness began to fall.

Elliott led 35 laps in total, the crunch moment coming on lap 157 when he pulled off a move on rookie Kurt Busch into Turn 1 to take a decisive lead.

With four poles to his name this year, the veteran has more than any other driver. By converting this one into victory, he became the 10th different winner in as many Winston Cup race.

Along with the rain, a major accident also caused a delay of one hour. Just five laps into the race Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr clashed at Turn 1, with both avoiding injury.

Park and Rusty Wallace triggered the shunt by colliding. Park then swerved to the inside of the track and collected Earnhardt Jr. The pair slithered across the west and bump infield grass before Park's car slammed into the guard rail.

Eanrhardt Jr was relieved to find his friend and rival was unhurt when he ran to Park's car following a spectacular barrel roll. Officials had to replace 110 feet of guard rail before racing could resume.