Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway (formerly Pocono International Raceway), also known as The Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. It is the site of three NASCAR national series races and an ARCA Menards Series event in July: a NASCAR Cup Series race with support events by the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. From 1971 to 1989, and from 2013 to 2019, the track also hosted an Indy Car race, last sanctioned by the IndyCar Series. Additionally, from 1982 to 2021, it hosted two NASCAR Cup Series races, with the traditional first date being removed in 2022.
| "The Tricky Triangle" | |
|---|---|
| Location | Long Pond Road and Andretti Road, Long Pond, Pennsylvania, 18334 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 / −4 (DST) |
| Capacity | 76,812 |
| Owner | Mattco Inc. |
| Operator | Igdalsky and Mattioli families |
| Broke ground | 1968 |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Architect | Rodger Ward |
| Former names | Pocono International Raceway (1968–1984) |
| Major events | Current: NASCAR Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 (1971–present) NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 (2016–present) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series CRC Brakleen 150 (2010–present) ARCA Menards Series Sunset Hill Shooting Range 150 (1969, 1983, 1987–2023) Former: NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 (1982–2021) IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 (2013–2019) CART IndyCar Pocono 500 (1982–1989) IMSA GT Championship Grand Prix at Pocono (1981–1985) AMA Superbike Championship (1977–1978, 1980–1986) USAC IndyCar Pocono 500 (1971–1981) Trans-Am Series (1975–1976) |
| Website | https://www.poconoraceway.com/ |
| Triangle Oval (1971–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.500 miles (4.023 km) |
| Turns | 3 |
| Banking | Turn 1: 14° Turn 2: 8° Turn 3: 6° |
| Race lap record | 40.9009 (220.045 mph) ( Ryan Briscoe, Dallara DW12, 2014, IndyCar) |
| Road Course (1985–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.500 miles (4.023 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Banking | Turn 1: 14° Turn 2: 8° |
| Race lap record | 1:15.440 ( Al Holbert, Porsche 962, 1985, IMSA GTP) |
| Road Course (1973–1984) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.800 miles (4.506 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Banking | Turn 1: 14° Turn 2: 8° |
| Race lap record | 1:20.200 ( Danny Ongais/ Vern Schuppan, Lola T332C/Eagle 755, 1976, F5000) |
| Short Road Course (1969–1984) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.800 miles (2.897 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Banking | Turn 3: 6° |
| Race lap record | 54.344 ( Eppie Wietzes, Lola T330, 1973, F5000) |
| Original Short Oval (1968–1970) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.750 miles (1.207 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
Pocono is one of the few tracks NASCAR competes at which are not owned by either NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports, the dominant track owners in NASCAR. Pocono CEO Nick Igdalsky and president Ben May are members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Rose and Joseph Mattioli. Mattco also owns South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia.
Outside NASCAR and IndyCar Series races, Pocono is used throughout the year by the Stock Car Experience, Bertil Roos Driving School, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) as well as many other clubs and organizations. The triangular track also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – the north course, east course and south course. Each of these infield sections use separate portions of the track or can be combined for longer and more technical course configurations. In total Pocono Raceway has offers 22 different road course configurations ranging from .5 miles to 3.65 miles in length. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs or driving schools can use the track simultaneously by running on different infield sections. All of the infield sections can also be run in either clockwise or counter clockwise direction which doubles the 22 course configuration to 44 total course options.