Earnhardt Jr. took the lead in the final laps to sweep both races at Pocono this season

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: August 3rd, 2014 at 5:10 pm EST

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is starting to show his competitors that he’s going to be a challenge for the championship this season.

The driver of the No. 88 National Guard said after he landed at Pocono Raceway that he was looking for the broom. Earnhardt Jr. picked up his second win of the season at the track in Long Pond, PA after taking the lead with three laps to go on the final restart.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin was the last driver to sweep Pocono when he won both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2006.

This is Earnhardt Jr.’s third win of the season, as he also won the historic Daytona 500 in February to begin the season. Following his win, he shook hands with his crew members and crew chief Steve Letarte as he moved to victory lane.

As his team waited to celebrate, Earnhardt Jr. talked to Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick in victory lane. With the win, it was the second straight by a Hendrick car with Jeff Gordon winning last week at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the fifth straight at Pocono for Hendrick.

Brad Keselowski was the last non Hendrick Motorsports car to win a race, as he won at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Before Gordon’s win on July 27th, Hendrick Motorsports last win of the season came on June 15th when Jimmie Johnson won at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

Kevin Harvick finished in second place. Following Harvick, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, and Greg Biffle rounded out the Top 5.

With the three wins, it is the most wins that he’s had in a season over the past decade. In 2004, Earnhardt Jr. won a career-high six races.