Mayfield edges Earnhardt for Pocono win

Monday, June 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) â€” Jeremy Mayfield took a page from Dale Earnhardt's driving textbook, tapping his rear bumper on the final turn of the last lap and passing The Intimidator to win the rain-delayed Pocono 500 on Monday.

The win was the third in the career of the 31-year-old driver from Owensboro, Ky., who got his breakthrough victory in this race in 1998.

It also continued a pattern of ups and downs for Mayfield, whose team has been penalized twice this season for rules violation. He lost 151 points and seven positions in the Winston Cup chase for one violation and his team was fined for another after he won in April in Fontana, Calif.

Mayfield also challenged for the victory eight days ago in Brooklyn, Mich., leading for 85 laps before blowing an engine.

On Monday, his Ford beat that of Dale Jarrett by .581 seconds. Earnhardt, after regaining his traction, brought his Chevrolet home fourth, immediately behind the Ford of Ricky Rudd.