Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway is a racetrack located in the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania. It is unique on the NASCAR race circuit in that it is a tri-oval shape, similar to that of a coat hanger. The track measures 2.5 miles long, but speed is not as much of a factor at Pocono as it is at other large tracks because of its shape. Adding to this is the fact that each of the three turns has a different radius and a different degree of bank. Furthermore, each of the three straightaway stretches is a different length.http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2346796

NASCAR holds two races each year at Pocono Raceway. The Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 presented by Target is the June race. The 2010 winner was Denny Hamlin. The August race at Pocono is the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, won in 2010 by Greg Biffle.http://www.nascar.com/kyn/nbtn/cup/data/tracks/poc_winners.html

Track owners Joe and Rose Mattioli have been close to bankruptcy several times. After the first IndyCar race at the track in 1971, a hurricane hit the area, which caused economic hardships. Bill France, Sr., NASCAR boss at the time, advised the Mattiolis to be patient. In 1982, Pocono was given a second NASCAR race, and the track has continually grown and been improved upon.http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/pocono/index.html

In the 1970s and 80s, NASCAR Cup races were won multiple times each by the likes of Richard Petty, the late Tim Richmond, Bobby Allison, and Bill Elliott. In the last two decades, winning drivers include Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, and Bobby Labonte.http://www.nascar.com/kyn/nbtn/cup/data/tracks/poc_winners.html

Pocono Racetrack is located roughly 100 miles each from Philadelphia and New York City, which many Pocono racegoers find convenient for making short day trips during race weekends. Inside the track itself, the Paddock area provides fans an opportunity to watch racing up close - they are less than 60 feet from the cars as they speed by.http://www.poconoraceway.com/track_history.asp

The track and its staff have a motto, PFC, that defines how they view their responsibilities to its racing visitors/fans - Prettiest, Friendliest, and Cleanest of all racetracks. An example of this is the Midway part of the racetrack complex, which is the setting for fourteen 40-foot Blue Spruce trees and more than 200 picnic tables.http://www.poconoraceway.com/track_history.asp

Two Racing Schools regularly conduct classes and practices at Pocono - the Stock Car Racing Experience and Team ProKart Racing and Bertil Roos Racing School.http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2346796