POCONO RACEWAY TRACK NEWS
Pocono Raceway Business Offices
(570) 646-2300
(570) 646-2010 fax
Pocono Raceway Ticket Office
1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929)
Official Pocono Souvenirs
570-646-3034
Hotel Accommodations
1-800-POCONOS (1-800-762-6667)
Pocono Raceway
PO Box 500
Long Pond, PA. 18334-0500
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 2.5 mile tri-oval
Banking: turn 1: 14 degrees; turn 2: 8 degrees; turn 3: 6 degrees;
Straights: Front - 3740 feet; Long Pond(between turns 1 and 2) - 3055 feet; North(between turns 2 and 3) - 1780 feet
Grandstand Seating: 100,000
Turn One is modeled after the now defunct Trenton Speedway
Turn Two is like Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Turn Three is similar to The Milwaukee Mile
Websites:
Pococo Raceway
Pocono Raceway - Facebook
Pocono Raceway - Twitter
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Pocono Raceway
Pocono's Best
There are four current race tracks the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs on that #5-Mark Martin has not won a Sprint Cup race at, plus Martin ran five races at Nashville and four races at Riverside and didn't win:
Pocono: 0 for 45 with six finishes of 2nd, last in 8/2004
Daytona: 0 for 49 with a best finish of 2nd in 2/2007
Indianapolis: 0 for 16 with a best finish of 2nd in 8/1998 and 7/2009
Homestead: 0 for 10 with a best finish of 2nd in 11/2005.(2-14-2010)
Pocono Raceway & Destination Pocono team up: To help reduce the environmental impact created by the thousands of NASCAR fans that travel in for the Pocono 500 & the Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each summer, Pocono Raceway is thinking "green" again this year by encouraging race fans to park their cars and ride in on special buses. By participating in this program, fans can reduce the effect of their presence on local roadways and enjoy a safer travel option. The buses are available to all fans, local residents and visitors alike. A quick arrival at the track is ensured by specially-designated bus lanes and the help of Sheriff's department escorts. As a special treat for using this service, the arrival concludes with a lap around "the Tricky Triangle."(Pocono Raceway)(1-31-2010)
2010 Pocono Raceway Tickets now on sale: The deadline for fans renewing their tickets for 2010 at Pocono Raceway has expired, which means all remaining tickets for Pocono Raceway’s June 6 Pocono 500 and August 1 Pennsylvania 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races are now on sale. A wide selection of grandstand seats, starting at just $45, are now available to the general public. In addition, all remaining Premium Seats, including the new Terrace Bistro and $100 Club @ Club Pocono are also available. Tickets for all Pocono Raceway events can be purchased online at www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY.(Pocono Raceway)(12-8-2009)
Pocono Raceway owner honored: WVIA announced Dr. Joseph Mattioli as the 2009 Great Pennsylvanian. To celebrate WVIA-TV will premiere a new biographical film, Dr. Joseph Mattioli: Always Moving Forward, on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. on WVIA-TV. It will also be shown in the Abeloff Theater on the East Stroudsburg University campus that night. Dr. Mattioli is the sixth Great Pennsylvanian in WVIA’s original series. The impact of Dr. Joseph Mattioli’s Pocono Raceway has gone far beyond the world of auto racing to become an economic and social center of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region. Dr. Joseph Mattioli: Always Moving Forward is a one-hour WVIA original documentary film celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. Joseph Mattioli, from his humble beginnings in the rural coal regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania to becoming an incredible businessman, all the while living life by two rules: always do what you love and always move forward. The Mattioli family’s philanthropic efforts in education and health care continue to improve the lives of everyone they touch. More info and schedule at wvia.org.(10-27-2009)
T-shirt seller arrested at Pocono Raceway on counterfeiting charge: A Michigan man was arrested and charged with selling knock-off NASCAR shirts at Pocono Raceway on Monday instead of officially licensed merchandise. Michael Quatrine, 45, has been arrested for selling fakes before. According to Pocono Mountain Regional Police, Quatrine has been arrested in California, Delaware, Michigan and South Carolina and other states for trademark counterfeiting. "We do counterfeit enforcement at tracks around the country. If not watched it can become pervasive," said Tom Sullivan, NASCAR's manager of business communications. Although NASCAR was not inspecting at Pocono on Monday, track workers were on the lookout for fake merchandise. Pocono Raceway employee Roger Green told police he saw Quatrine selling counterfeit Pocono Raceway T-shirts and detained him until police arrived. While investigating the complaint, a man told police he had purchased two shirts from Quatrine for $5 each and showed police the shirts. They matched the shirts Quatrine had in his possession. According the criminal complaint, Pocono Raceway employee Looie McNally identified the shirts as fakes by comparing labels and also showing the Sprint/NASCAR markings were fraudulent and misbranded. He was charged with trademark counterfeiting, a third-degree felony as a repeat offense, and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Richard Claypool. Quatrine was being held in Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail. Pocono Raceway spokesperson Bob Pleban said the track had no comment on the arrest. "It's not just about the loss of revenue to drivers and teams," said Joe Mattes, interim president of Motorsports Authentics. As the largest licensee in NASCAR, a vendor for more than 80 drivers, Motorsports Authentics makes more than 90% of the diecast products fans find trackside and on stores shelves in Wal-Mart and Kmart.(Pocono Record)(8-5-2009)
Why Pocono teamed up with the Red Cross and Sunoco: Back in the 1990s, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, the chairman of Pocono Raceway, decided he didn't need title sponsors for the track's two NASCAR races each year. Mattioli branded the June race the Pocono 500 and the summer race the Pennsylvania 500. Last year, the summer event became the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. Track president Brandon Igdalsky, Mattioli's grandson, said yesterday he didn't have to twist his grandfather's arm to affiliate Sunoco and Red Cross with the Pennsylvania 500. "I knew he had a soft spot with the charitable stuff," Igdalsky said. "His big thing has been to give back. This was an easy one. When we explained the concept, he said, 'Heck, yeah.' " Sunoco and Red Cross are not the traditional title sponsors who pay about $2 million per race to tracks. Tom Foley, CEO of the Red Cross' southeastern Pennsylvania chapter based in Philadelphia, said Sunoco makes a significant contribution to the Mattioli Foundation, which then donates the money to the Red Cross chapter. Sunoco, also Philadelphia based, is the official fuel of NASCAR. Igdalsky and Foley said they are hopeful that the Pocono/Red Cross/Sunoco relationship will continue after this year.(Philadelphia Daily News)(8-4-2009)
Pocono Raceway to install a solar farm: Pocono Raceway is getting ready to “Go Green” by installing a three megawatt solar farm, which will power all the track’s energy needs and support the local energy grid. A groundbreaking ceremony, conducted today (July 31), was held before a media corps covering the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 race weekend activities at Pocono Raceway.
Working in conjunction with enXco, an EDF EN Company, and Evolution Energies the new Pocono Raceway Solar Farm will be constructed along Long Pond Road. The project is a 3.0MW photovoltaic array on approximately 25 acres and will consist of nearly 40,000 photovoltaic modules. The Solar Farm is being constructed on land that used to be parking lots that are no longer used due to a reconfiguration of other parking lots on Raceway property. The project is set to be completed by the spring of 2010. The new solar panel system will become the primary electric energy source for the race track and will also benefit the local power grid. With the deregulation of Pennsylvania’s electric utility laws allowing more flexibility on power purchases, the track found there is no better time to upgrade their facility. Brandon Igdalsky, Track President said, “This new system will not only satisfy the Raceway’s energy needs, it will allow us to help power close to one thousand homes and lower carbon dioxide emissions by 5,100 tons every year.” The Pocono Raceway solar installation is unique in that it will be the only sports facility in the world to generate clean renewable energy on site which will more than offset its annual electricity consumption. This will in effect make the track the first truly “green” sports facility in the world.(Pocono Raceway)(8-1-2009)
Bacardi Bistro to debut at Pocono: Infield race fans attending the Pocono Raceway Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, July 31 to Aug. 2, will find a new addition – the Bacardi Bistro. The Bacardi Bistro, will provide infield fans the opportunity to purchase beverages, snacks and tasty food offerings including Notis The Gyro King - serving the tastiest sandwich in town, a Greek specialty that is nothing like you tasted before. It was voted #1 sandwich in the Wyoming Valley for the past 15 years. The Bacardi Bistro will feature limited mixed adult beverages, Yuengling beer, TV’s, indoor seating in an up scale chalet and an outdoor umbrella covered patio. Access to the Chalet will be restricted to fans 21 and older. Locate adjacent to the Tunnel Road, the Bacardi Bistro will be readily accessible to all infield race fans. For Pocono Raceway ticket information, call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY or visit poconoraceway.com and choose the convenient print at home option.(7-31-2009)
Blue Grass Concerts at Pocono: The Yabutz.com Blue Grass Concerts will showcase top blue grass artists including Ricky Skaggs, Steep Canyon Rangers, Charlie Sizemore Band, Dailey & Vincent, Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Blue Highway and SteelDrivers on July 31st and August 1st. The concerts, being presented by Yabutz.com, are free to infield campers attending the race. Additionally grandstand fans can also attend the concerts and visit the Bacardi Bistro by purchasing a one day infield ticket for $25 or a 2 day infield ticket for $40 in addition to their grandstand tickets. These one day infield tickets will allow fans to drive their vehicles into the infield for the day, exiting at the conclusion of the concerts. For more information visit yabutz.com/bluegrass. For Pocono Raceway ticket information, call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY or visit poconoraceway.com and choose the convenient print at home option.(7-31-2009)
Man wins 'Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience: James Ruscigno, of Wappingers Falls, NY, won the Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience. Ruscigno will wave the green flag as the Official Starter of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, July 31 - August 2, 2009 at Pocono Raceway. As the grand prize winner, Ruscigno will also experience a Hot Lap with NASCAR Driver #16-Greg Biffle, serve as an honorary member of Biffle's pit crew with three friends during the race, as well as attend the driver's meeting and be on stage during driver introductions before the race. In addition to sponsoring the Sunoco Red Cross Ultimate Fan Experience, Sunoco, Inc. is lending marketing and promotional support to the August race with signage at 1,826 retail locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Sunoco has also highlighted the event on its website, www.GoSunoco.com, and provided a link to the Pocono Raceway ticket sales site in order to encourage fans to use the promo code, REDCROSS, and help raise money for the American Red Cross. Ten percent of all tickets sold through the promotion benefited American Red Cross local disaster relief. Ruscigno is one of more than 500 entrants into the contest who either made an online donation in support of the American Red Cross or purchased race tickets using the promo code.(Red Cross)(7-30-2009)
Fans top priority at Pocono Raceway: The excitement of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 on August 2nd at Pocono Raceway is fast approaching. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Saturday's ARCA RE/MAX Series race, the Pennsylvania 200, will showcase the greatest race car drivers and race teams in the nation. The atmosphere, drama and excitement of major league stock car racing are unparalleled in sports. NASCAR fans are the most loyal and passionate fans in the world of sports and taking care of our fans is a top priority at Pocono Raceway. Listed below is information that will help our fans while at the Raceway. The weekend schedule of racing activities is also included. Grandstand gates open at 8:00am Friday and Saturday, 9:00am Sunday. Grandstand parking lots open at 5:00am Sunday. If fans need assistance at any time during their visit, simply contact Fan Assistance at (570) 643-7184, help@poconoraceway.com or text SOS then "your message" to 84444. Remember that Pocono Raceway fans may stay in all camping areas and the grandstand parking lots until noon on Monday at no additional charge. For Pocono Raceway ticket information, call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY or visit poconoraceway.com and choose the convenient print at home option.(7-30-2009)
- No Sale or changes for Pocono: Joseph Mattioli understands that Pocono Raceway has an unusual place on the NASCAR circuit - and that's just the way the outspoken track owner likes it. The track's two races will always be 500 miles long, even as drivers and critics beg for 100 miles to be sliced off each. And those names, the Pocono 500 and Pennsylvania 500, will remain traditional and eschew corporate sponsorship. The track is a 2.5-mile triangle and boasts the longest straightaway (3,740 feet) in the series. And with a fourth-generation of Mattiolis in line to run the raceway, Pocono will never be for sale. Not to Bruton Smith. Not anyone. "If Bruton comes down Gasoline Alley with a wheelbarrow with a billion dollars, he wouldn't get borscht from me," the 84-year-old Mattioli said. "I have enough money, we don't owe any money and all three generations are working and a fourth is waiting to start. It would be like selling part of your family."(Associated Press)(6-7-2009)
- First Annual Pocono Raceway Festival Coming to Downtown Stroudsburg June 6th: The Sherman Theater will host the first ever Pocono Raceway Festival in downtown Stroudsburg on June 6th, celebrating racing in the Pocono Mountains with a variety of food, games, show cars and live music. Pocono Raceway Festival is designed to showcase all the great retail, food and other attractions downtown Stroudsburg has to offer. The event will augment and support the festivities and events taking place as NASCAR, ARCA and other racers come back to the Pocono Mountains. The festival will feature numerous NASCAR vehicles on display including Best Buy, Coors Light and Geico and the official Pocono Raceway Pace Car to name a few.
This event has something for everyone, whether you like quarter midgets, full blown NASCAR or anything in between, the only place you will see more cars is at the Track. If you don't like race cars, no problem, with nearly 200 different vendors and store fronts with sidewalk sales and specials, you can get some great deals while strolling our Historic Borough. Try your luck at the Best Buy racing Simulators or the Stock Car Racing Experience's tire changing games. Check out the hottest Harley Davidsons with Schoch's Harley, or race a mini NASCAR on our scaled down Tricky triangle, provided by Hobby Town USA.
Come on out as the community Honors NASCAR and its Drivers on this special day. NASCAR president Mike Helton will be on hand with other invited guests to accept the award. No event is complete without great food. Visit one of the 20 different vendors and restaurants who will showcase food from sushi to steak and from burgers to handmade Ice Cream. Downtown Stroudsburg has it all. The music will run throughout the day on numerous stages around the town with some of the best music in the region. If that's not enough, stick around as your community theater presents, for the first time ever, a free concert on Main Street featuring The Marshall Tucker Band! The entire day is free and is the culmination of a full weekend of events starting with the Dark Star Orchestra Concert inside the Sherman on Thursday. Join the party with the only band capable of "recreating a Grateful Dead Experience"
The Pocono Raceway Festival takes place on June 6th and starts at 12 pm until 8:30 pm. Admission to the festival is free. For more information, call the Sherman Theater at 570-420-2808 or visit the Sherman Theater online at www.shermantheater.com.(6-2-2009)
- Actor Ryan Reynolds to Serve as Grand Marshal for Pocono 500: Ryan Reynolds, star of the upcoming Touchstone Pictures comedy The Proposal, has been named the Grand Marshal for the June 7, 2009 Pocono 500, Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway. As Grand Marshal, Reynolds will participate in a number of pre-race activities, including attending the drivers meeting, participating in driver introductions and giving the most famous command in motorsports, “Gentleman, start your engines.” The Proposal, in theaters on June 19, is a comedy about what happens when a high-powered book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) faces deportation to her native Canada. Prior to his starring role in The Proposal, Canadian born Reynolds recently starred in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Adventureland,” “Definitely-Maybe,” ”Smokin Aces,” “The Amityville Horror” and “Van Wilder.” He is married to actress/model Scarlett Johansson. The June 7th Pocono 500 begins at 2:00PM ET with pre-race activities beginning at 1:00PM. Tickets are still available for the Pocono 500 online at www.poconoraceway.com or by phone at 1-800-RACEWAY.(Pocono Raceway)(5-29-2009)
- Pocono offers ticket package with Sprint FanView or DVD:
Did you ever hear the expression "you can have your cake and eat it too?" Well Pocono Raceway announced not one, but two ticket offers, where race fans can do just that. Fans attending the June 7th Pocono 500 or August 2nd Pennsylvania 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends can experience the live excitement and drama of the race PLUS view the race as a NASCAR insider or relive all the exciting race action anytime they wish. The NASCAR Sprint FanView Ticket Package includes specially priced Pocono 500 or Pennsylvania 500 Terrace or Concourse Grandstand seat tickets and a VIP Card redeemable for a weekend rental of a NASCAR Sprint FanView, the ultimate race day companion. Produced and developed by Sprint, NASCAR and Kangaroo.TV, NASCAR Sprint FanView® bridges the live excitement of races with real-time data and visuals. The DVD/Ticket Combo Package allows race fans to purchase two specially priced Terrace or Concourse seat tickets to either the Pocono 500 or the Pennsylvania 500 and receive a free DVD containing the full broadcast of the race that you attended PLUS bonus material including downloadable Wallpapers and Screensavers as well as a special 5" x 7" print by Official NASCAR artist Stephen Balck. The NASCAR Sprint FanView Discount Package and the DVD/Ticket Combo Package are available by going to: www.poconoraceway.com and clicking on Get Tickets Fast. For additional information call 1-800-RACEWAY.(Pocono Raceway PR)(5-2-2009)
- Pocono Raceway Launches new service: Pocono Raceway has launched a new service, Pocono Ticket Marketplace, to provide Renewal Ticket Holders a safe and secure site to post their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for sale online. The Pocono Ticket Marketplace service is available to customers who purchased Pocono Raceway tickets in 2008 and reordered Sunday grandstand tickets for either of Pocono Raceway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 2009, the June 7th Pocono 500 or the August 2nd Pennsylvania 500. To access the Pocono Ticket Marketplace simply go to www.poconoraceway.com and click on “Tickets”. A drop down window will list a number of ticketing options. Click on Pocono Ticket Marketplace and follow the instructions. Additional information on this and other Pocono Raceway ticketing services is also available by calling the Raceway ticket office toll free at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929).(Pocono Raceway PR)(4-14-2009)
- Pocono Raceway to Host Bluegrass Concert: Billed as ‘The Music of the Mountains’, Pocono Raceway will play host to a weekend of Bluegrass prior to the August 2nd Pennsylvania 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. The two days of concerts, Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, will feature top artists – Ricky Skaggs, Steep Canyon Rangers, Charlie Sizemore Band, Dailey & Vincent, Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Blue Highway and SteelDrivers – and is free to infield campers attending the race. The two day music event is free to campers in the infield, and if history is any guide, that means thousands of fans milling about will enjoy this great, mid-season summer event. In addition to the concert, for online fans, a pre-concert, thirty minute ‘red-carpet’ event will be broadcast live on the Internet. A worldwide, online audience estimated at 250,000 will watch NASCAR and ARCA stars interviewed as they walk the ‘carpet’ to the concert’s VIP seating section. For more information visit http://yabutz.com/bluegrass. Once there, signing up for the free web-event is simple. The red-carpet event will be simulcast to racing websites around the world. For Pocono Raceway ticket and camping information, visit:www.poconoraceway.com or call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY.(PIR PR)(2-28-2009)
- Pocono makes improvements to seats and entrance: Pocono Raceway has recently completed a multi-million dollar improvement project designed to enhance the total experience of attending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono Raceway in 2009. Fans will find a new parking lot entrance, coupled with additional parking, which will greatly improve the ingress and egress of the thousands of race fans attending Pocono Raceway events. “Pocono Raceway becomes the third largest city, population wise, in the state of Pennsylvania on race day” stated Raceway C.E.O. Dr. Joseph Mattioli. “The new entrance and corresponding parking areas, located off Route 115, will allow us to get race fans in and out of our facility more efficiently”, Dr. Mattioli added. Once the fans reach the Grandstand area, many will find upgraded seating in the form of “bucket seats” that have been retrofitted to the existing Grandstand bench seats. The new “bucket seats” are designed with contoured seat bottoms and back rests that will add additional comfort for fans. The “bucket seats” are located in the center portions of Pocono’s massive Grandstand and consist of the Terrace Platinum and Concourse Gold seating areas. “The new seating is just the first of many improvements Pocono Raceway has planned to better serve our loyal race fans”, stated Dr Joseph Mattioli. The Sprint Cup Series visits Pocono Raceway on June 7th for the 28th annual Pocono 500 and then on August 2nd it’s the 36th annual Pennsylvania 500. Both NASCAR events will be preceded by Friday’s Weis Markets Pole Day and Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series Pocono and Pennsylvania 200’s respectively and Sprint Cup “Happy Hour” practice. Tickets are available online at www.poconoraceway.com or by calling toll free 1-800-RACEWAY.(Pocono Raceway PR)(2-20-2009)
- Chris Economaki Named 2009 Recipient of Pocono Raceway’s Bill France Award of Excellence: Chris Economaki, the Dean of Motorsports Journalists, has been named the 2009 recipient of Pocono Raceway’s Bill France Award of Excellence. The Pocono Raceway Bill France Award of Excellence has been presented annually to the person, corporation or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the sport of Sprint Cup Series Racing. This prestigious award, first presented in 1977, is dedicated to the inspiration of William H.G. France, founder of NASCAR. Economaki’s selection is especially significant since it marks the first time a journalist has been named to receive this award.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 15, 1920, Economaki has been involved in racing most of his life. He saw his first race at the age of nine and was hooked for life. By the time he was 14, he was a fixture around race tracks doing anything he could to be involved with the sport. He began selling a daily newspaper, which had a racing section, in the grandstands of many tracks. When the National Racing News became a spin-off of the daily newspaper, he began writing his first by-line columns. He later took over as editor, publisher and owner of National Speed Sport News and turned it into the most influential weekly motorsports publication in the country. The newspaper is considered “America’s Weekly Motorsports Authority” and Chris continues to write his column “The Editors Notebook” which has appeared in National Speed Sport News for more than 50 years.
Chris became one of the most popular track announcers in the 1940’s and 1950’s. His style grew to legendary status and soon caught the attention of ABC and CBS television executives in the early 1960’s. He covered many of the world’s major auto racing events for TV including the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of LeMans in a TV career that spanned four decades.
“Chris Economaki gained the respect of the entire racing community for his fair and insightful reporting and enjoys a first-name relationship with the entire automotive and racing world,” stated Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Pocono Raceway Chairman of the Board. “Chris Economaki helped bring NASCAR onto the national scene and I am honored to announce that Chris has been named the recipient of Pocono Raceway’s 2009 Bill France Award of Excellence,” concluded Dr. Mattioli.
The Pocono Raceway Bill France Award of Excellence, a beautifully sculptured and highly polished piece of anthracite coal mined in Pennsylvania, will be presented to Chris Economaki at an award ceremony on Saturday, June 6, 2009. This ceremony is part of the festivities leading up to the June 7, 2009 Pocono 500 Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.(Pocono Raceway PR)(2-18-2009)
