POCONO RACEWAY
NEWS/RUMORS
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
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Pocono Raceway
Pocono's Best
- 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)
- Police search for stabbing suspect at Pocono: Police are still seeking witnesses of an apparent attempted homicide outside the Pocono International Raceway this weekend. Michael Gualtieri, 43, of Long Island was stabbed in a parking area outside the raceway Sunday, Pocono Mountain Regional Police said. He was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest to repair damage to his heart caused by the chest wound, and police said last night he remained in critical condition. Police said they have executed a search warrant in the case, but did not identify a suspect or release any further information. In addition to the stabbing, police said they dealt with a series of other problems inside or outside the raceway Sunday, including reports of car accidents, fights and public intoxication.(Allentown Morning Call)(8-8-2008)
- Man Critical after Pocono Raceway Stabbing: A 43-year-old man is in critical condition today after being stabbed in the heart at Pocono International Raceway on Sunday, police said. Michael Gualtiere, of Seaford, on Long Island, N.Y., was treated at the infield care center at the raceway around 7 p.m. and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center where he remains in critical condition after surgery, according to Pocono Mountain Regional Police. Police said they are executing a search warrant on a vehicle involved in the incident and they have identified a person of interest. Police believe the public is not at risk and the investigation is ongoing.(Pocono Record)(8-5-2008)
- McCain's wife to participate in track activities Sunday at Pocono: U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign announced that Mrs. Cindy McCain will participate in the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, August 3rd at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania at 10:45am/et.(Pocono Raceway PR)(8-2-2008)
- Kiefer Sutherland named Grand Marshal at Pocono: Actor Kiefer Sutherland will serve as grand marshal of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway and will give the "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" command. Sutherland will star in the movie "Mirrors," along with Paula Patton and Amy Smart. The movie will be also featured on J.J. Yeley's #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry during the race. In "Mirrors," which opens in theatres everywhere Aug. 15, Sutherland portrays a troubled ex-cop who must save his family from an unspeakable evil that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home. The movie will be shown nationwide in a digital format at select theatres on DLP Cinema projectors. DLP leads the cinema movement from film to digital movie theatres powered by DLP Cinema Technology with over 6,700 screens in more than 40 countries. In addition to "Mirrors," Sutherland has starred in "The Lost Boys," "A Few Good Men," "Stand By Me," "Young Guns" and "A Time To Kill." In addition to his incredible movie career, which includes more than 50 films, Sutherland stars as Jack Bauer in the popular FOX show, "24." He won an Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" in 2006 for his work on the show. "This will be a pretty cool weekend for everyone at DLP and Hall of Fame Racing," Yeley said. "It's exciting to have 'Mirrors' on the DLP Toyota and we're going to show Kiefer a good time. I'm a big fan of his work and I'm looking forward to meeting him and seeing the movie." Brandon Igdalsky, President of Pocono Raceway, said he is looking forward to hosting Sutherland at beautiful and scenic Pocono Raceway. "We are very proud to have Kiefer Sutherland as a guest of Pocono Raceway for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500," Igdalsky said. "He is a terrific actor and we look forward to seeing 'Mirrors' when it comes out in theatres on Aug. 15." The Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 begins at 2pm/et with live, high-definition coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 1pm/et. The race will also be broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 128 and MRN Radio. Tickets are still available for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 online at www.poconoraceway.com or by phone at 1-800-RACEWAY. Use Promocode: REDCROSS and 10% of your ticket price will be donated back to the American Red Cross, in addition, you will receive a FREE pre-race pit/paddock pass and souvenir program with collectible die-cast car (while supplies last).(Pocono Raceway PR)(7-30-2008)
- Pocono race renamed Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500: Brandon Igdalsky, President of Pocono Raceway, Tom Foley, CEO of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Chapter, and Bob Owens, Senior Vice President of Sunoco, today announced the details for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, to take place August 1-3. A partnership of Sunoco, Pocono Raceway and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter was formed to provide much-needed funds to help people throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania recover from devastating disaster. Through this partnership, Pocono Raceway is also donating a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and merchandise, as well as providing other revenue-generating efforts to benefit the Red Cross SEPA Chapter's Red Cross House. "This is the first time since 1997 Pocono Raceway has changed the name of the race - Pocono Raceway admires and respects the work of the Red Cross and wanted to help support its mission and the great work they do for families in Pennsylvania," stated Brandon Igdalsky.
"It is a tremendous privilege to have the famed Pennsylvania 500 named in our honor this year," said Red Cross SEPA Chapter CEO Tom Foley. "Sunoco has been a valued corporate partner to the Red Cross for many years, and through their generosity and the generosity of Pocono Raceway and the Mattioli family, we hope to use this event to generate much-needed funds for Red Cross House."
"Sunoco is pleased to support this important initiative," said Bob Owens, Senior Vice President of Sunoco, Inc. "Whether it's providing local disaster relief, offering skills training in the areas of health and safety, or running blood drives, the Red Cross provides valuable services to the community. We know NASCAR fans will join us in this effort and support the work of the Red Cross."
As part of this partnership, Pocono Raceway is donating ten percent of the ticket revenue generated by online ticket buyers who use the Red Cross promo code, REDCROSS. As an added incentive, those race fans purchasing the first 1,500 Sunday, August 3, 2008 reserved grandstand seat tickets, using the Red Cross promo code, will receive a free pre-race Pit/Paddock Pass ($50 value) and Souvenir Program Book and Commemorative Die Cast Car ($15 Value) with each ticket purchased. So ORDER NOW. Tickets can be purchased at www.poconoraceway.com.
In addition, Pocono Raceway will also feature a donation collection on its website, as well as provide the SEPA Chapter with the opportunity to collect donations at the race. Pocono Raceway is also donating to the SEPA Chapter a portion of the proceeds from the Official Starting Line-Up t-shirt, Pocono Raceway's largest grossing concession item. The Red Cross will receive a percent of the proceeds from the walker fees for the Track Walk, hosted by the NASCAR Foundation, on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. Fans can register to participate in the Track Walk at www.nascar.com/foundation. NASCAR Foundation is also hosting an online auction, on www.nascar.com/foundation, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Auction items include autographed Sunoco Victory flags, a Sunoco Racing fuel can, a Pace Car ride for two people before the start of the race on Sunday, A parade lap for one with the celebrity Grand Marshal, autographed race helmet and a Super VIP experience to include 4 skybox tickets valued at $2,000, food and beverage, pit pass, and all three-day access, VIP garage tour given by a Track Ambassador, ability to stand on stage and meet the drivers during the official driver introductions.
Sunoco will be providing marketing and promotional support to the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 with signage at 750 Sunoco retail locations near the track. Sunoco will also highlight the event on their new website, www.gosunoco.com, and provide a link to the Pocono Raceway's ticket sales site in order to encourage fans to enter the promo code and help raise money for the Red Cross. In addition to marketing efforts, Pocono Raceway and Sunoco will provide an exciting day at the races for 200 Red Cross Club members and victims of area disasters who have stayed at the Chapter's Red Cross House. These participants will receive free tickets and transportation to the Pennsylvania ARCA 200, the ARCA RE/MAX Series 80 lap race on Saturday, August 2, 2008. A corporate partner of the Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter for many years, Sunoco also provides free gasoline for the Chapter's emergency response vehicles to help reduce the cost of local disaster relief operations. Proceeds will benefit SEPA Chapter's Red Cross House, a short-term residence in West Philadelphia where hundreds of local families every year begin their recovery from fires, floods and other disasters affecting their lives.(Pocono Raceway PR)(7-1-2008)
- Long Pond Road section renamed for owners of Pocono Raceway: Part of the old Long Pond Road has a new name. This week the General Assembly voted to designate the portion of Long Pond Road fronting Pocono Raceway as Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Dr. Rose Mattioli Drive in honor of the Mattioli family, owners and operators of the track. Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Dr. Rose Mattioli Drive runs from the intersection at Route 115 east to the intersection of Stony Hollow Road. There are no homes on the 1½-mile span, so no one will need to give the post office an address change. Soon, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will install signs — they'll have be to long ones — at each end of Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Dr. Rose Mattioli Drive. The Mattioli's have owned and operated Pocono Raceway since 1968. Pocono Raceway is one of only three family-owned racetracks [Indy is one, but Dover, while not owned by ISC or SMI, is owned by a Corp, not a family] left on the Sprint Cup Series circuit. The raceway has hosted two NASCAR series races, the Pocono 500 and the Pennsylvania 500, every season since 1982.(Pocono Record)(6-12-2008)
- Fireworks at Pocono: The skies will be lighting up above Pocono Raceway, as a dazzling aerial fireworks display will take place on Saturday evening, June 7. The fireworks display is being provided solely for race fans staying in Pocono's infield or other on-grounds camping locations. The 30-minute sky lighting spectacular begins at 9:30pm/et.
More infield activities include the "Kids Inflatable Fun Zone" which runs Friday to Sunday from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Also on Friday and Saturday evening beginning at 8:30pm it will be "FREE Family Movie Nights." Friday's presentation will be Herbie Fully Loaded and on Saturday the feature will be Disney/Pixar's Cars. The movies will be shown in the Infield Fan Fair Area near Tunnel Road. Parking lots will open Sunday at 5:00am with grandstand gates opening at 9:00am. Pre-race activities get underway at 11:30am. Driver introduction is set for 1:30pm, leading up to the much anticipated 2:00pm start of the Pocono 500. Children 12 and under, accompanied by a paying adult, are admitted free to the grandstands on Friday and Saturday. Children 12 and under, accompanied by a paying adult, are admitted free to the infield. Good seating for Sunday's Pocono 500 are still available by calling the Raceway Ticket Office at 1-800-RACEWAY or at www.poconoraceway.com Fans purchasing tickets via our website can take advantage of the new "print at home" option. Tickets are also available at Pocono Raceway's gate #8 Ticket booth, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.(Pocono Raceway PR)(6-5-2008)
- Pocono Raceway NOT for sale: Rose Mattioli has told The Associated Press that her family has no plans to sell raceway. The NASCAR track currently has two Sprint Cup races. Mattioli said Tuesday that Pocono Raceway was entrusted to their grandchildren and they will continue to help run the 2 1/2-mile triangle track. Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased Kentucky Speedway last week and there was speculation SMI owner Bruton Smith had his eye on Pocono. If he bought that track, he could have moved one or both its dates to any of his speedways.(Associated Press)(5-28-2008)
- NASCAR testing at Pocono Tues/Wed: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing will be held at Pocono Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday. The test, which is open to the public, is now scheduled to be run on Tuesday from 12:30 to 7pm/et and Wednesday from 9am to 5pm/et. Grandstand gates will be open to spectators one hour prior to the start time of the test each day. Fans who are not current ticket holders for either of Pocono Raceway’s 2008 Sprint Cup Series or ARCA Series events will be able to purchase test tickets for $5 each by calling the Pocono Raceway Ticket Office at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929), online at poconoraceway.com or tickets can be purchased at the Pocono Raceway Gate 8 Ticket Booth each day of the testing. 2008 Pocono NASCAR ticket holders will be eligible to receive up to four (free tickets to the test session. A mail-in coupon for the test and additional information was sent to all ticket holders who purchase their NASCAR race tickets prior to May 9. Tickets for the Pocono 500 weekend, June 6-8, and the Pennsylvania 500 weekend, August 1-3, are still available. For more test day information or to order race tickets, call the Raceway ticket office toll-free at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929) or online at www.poconoraceway.com.(Pocono Record)(5-26-2008)
- New Pocono Raceway Book: Pocono Raceway announced the release of "Pocono Raceway", a publication by author, Gene A. Card. The "Pocono Raceway" book is a collection of photographs from various sources, including Pocono Raceway's archives, producing a pictorial history chronicling the raceway. The "Pocono Raceway" publication promises to bring back fond memories to the long time Pocono fans that have attended events at the track since its early years while also giving new fans an insight to the past history of the legendary raceway. The book will peak the interest of not only stock car racing fans, but also modified, motorcycle, and Indy Car fans as well.
The "Pocono Raceway" book is available at www.poconoraceway.com and www.shop-poconoraceway.com, as well as other fine book sellers. "Pocono Raceway" author, Gene A. Card, will be signing copies of the book the morning of the Pocono 500 on June 8, 2008 at the Pocono Raceway Souvenir Trailer located in the Fan Fair Area behind the grandstands near Gate 10. All fans in attendance are welcome to stop by to have their copy signed.(Pocono Raceway PR)(5-21-2008)
- Transportation Options for Pocono Raceway: So you're a NASCAR fan living in New York City or Northern New Jersey and planned on attending a Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway but are concerned about the high cost of gasoline. Or you fight city traffic on a daily basis and don't relish driving the 90 miles from mid town Manhattan to Pocono Raceway on a race weekend. Well, Pocono Raceway has partnered with Pocono Adventure Center and Martz Trailways to offer you an exciting option for your transportation to the June 8, 2008 Pocono 500 or the August 3, 2008 Pennsylvania 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Race fans who already have their race tickets can board the bus for only $79.95 round trip. Fans who do not have their race tickets can order tickets by calling the Pocono Raceway Ticket Office, toll free, at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929). For more info go to poconoraceway.com.(Pocono Raceway)(5-2-2008)
- Crash damages fan store at Pocono: A Chevy Silverado slammed into the Pocono Raceway Fan Store on Route 115 in Long Pond and burst into flames Tuesday at about 6:15 p.m. A man in his 50s or 60s was driving north on Route 115 in the pickup when for unknown reasons his truck left the road, became airborne and hit the store, taking out a large chunk of wall. The truck ignited, but passing motorists stopped and were able to free the man and get him clear of the flames, according to Tunkhannock Township Fire Chief Ron Wieand. The driver, whose identity and condition are unknown, was flown to a hospital. The accident is under investigation.(Pocono Record)(4-17-2008)
- Mattioli makes ARCA debut: 18 year-old Chase Mattioli, the grandson of Pocono Raceway patriarchs, Dr. Joe and Dr. Rose Mattioli, finished 12th in his very first ARCA RE/MAX event, Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem Speedway. He was able to dodge a number of wrecks, with the aid of his crew chief, Dave McClure, and spotter Charlie Vest, part of Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track Racing Team. This spring Mattioli, an honor student, will graduate from Scranton Preparatory High School and plans to attend Fordham University this fall. In the meantime he plans to attempt to qualify for 9 other events this season, including 4 more ARCA RE/MAX races. ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran Justin Allgaier fought off Sprint Cup Series veteran Ken Schrader in the final laps Sunday to claim the win.(PR)(4-15-2008)
- Pocono Testing May 27-28...open to public: Pocono Raceway officials announced that ticket holders for Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends in 2008 will be able to attend a special 2-day NASCAR test at Pocono Raceway on May 27 and May 28, 2008 for no charge. This 2-day test will be the first opportunity NASCAR teams will have to test the new Sprint Cup Series race car (formerly known as the COT) at Pocono Raceway. Approximately 50 Sprint Cup Series teams are expected to attend, which shows the importance of this test. 2008 Pocono NASCAR ticket holders will be eligible to receive up to four (4) FREE tickets to the test session. A mail-in coupon for the test and additional information will be sent to all ticket holders who have purchased their NASCAR race tickets prior to May 9, 2008. Fans that are not current ticket holders for either of Pocono Raceway's 2008 Sprint Cup Series or the ARCA Re/Max Series events will be able to purchase test tickets for $5.00 each by calling the Pocono Raceway Ticket Office at 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929), or they can be purchased at Gate 8 on each day of the event. Tickets for the Pocono 500 weekend, June 6-8, 2008 and the Pennsylvania 500 weekend, August 1-3, 2008 are still available but are selling fast. For more information or to order race tickets, call toll-free 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929) or online at www.poconoraceway.com.(Pocono Raceway PR)(3-13-2008)
- Pocono Tickets available Online with Print at Home Option: Tickets for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono Raceway are now available online by visiting Pocono Raceway's website www.poconoraceway.com and clicking on Tickets. By ordering early, fans will be able to order improved seat locations with better ticket availability for Pocono Raceway's 2008 Sprint Cup Series events. For the first time ever, fans ordering tickets online will have the option to print their tickets at home thanks to Pocono Raceway's new ticketing operation. This option will eliminate the need to mail tickets and allow fans to instantaneously print their tickets upon placing their order. New Era Tickets, the full-service ticketing subsidiary of Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, was recently selected as the exclusive ticketing partner for Pocono Raceway. As the exclusive ticket-insurance partner for New Era Tickets, World Access, a leading national insurance provider, will provide Pocono Raceway ticket-holders with an added benefit – the option to protect their ticket investment with “Event Ticket Protector” insurance. Event Ticket Protector insurance provides full reimbursement for the ticket purchase, plus taxes and shipping, if the ticket holder misses the race due to a covered reason. NASCAR fans will appreciate the Required to Work covered reason which provides cancellation coverage if a Sunday race is rescheduled for Monday (or later), causing the ticket holder to miss the race due to work obligations. For more information, contact the Pocono Raceway ticket office by calling toll free 1-800-RACEWAY.(Pocono Raceway PR)(1-3-2008)
