Pocono 500

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Lore & Background

Pocono Raceway opened in 1969 under the control of David Montgomery. Montgomery quickly left any involvement with the speedway after him and investor Joseph Mattioli disagreed with the facility's future plans, with Mattioli taking over control of the venue. Under Mattioli's tenure, the main tri-oval opened two years after the venue's initial opening. Pocono Raceway initially faced heavy financial turmoil throughout much of the 1970s, but was able to recover starting in the mid-1980s with the success of its NASCAR races. The track's three turns are based on turns from other racetracks; track designer and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward designed the first turn after Trenton Speedway, the second turn after Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the third turn after the Milwaukee Mile.

In Their Own Story

After over a decade of planning and construction delays, Pocono Raceway opened in 1969. The venue's short road course layout, measured at 1.800 mi (2.897 km), opened approximately four months later. In February 1970, USAC agreed to host a 500 mi (800 km) race on the venue's 2.500 mi (4.023 km) tri-oval. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the tri-oval was held on June 19, 1971. It held its first race on July 3, with Mark Donohue winning the 500-mile USAC-sanctioned event. In 1979, the track suffered numerous financial blows, including the USAC-sanctioned 1979 Pocono 500 facing issues after CART-affiliated drivers boycotted the event. The following year, the venue was leased out by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a year to help the track's financial situation.

Reader's Guide

Pocono Raceway's main track in its current form is measured at 2.500 mi (4.023 km), with 14° of banking on the track's first turn, 8° of banking on its second turn, and 6° of banking on its third turn. Compared to other NASCAR tracks, the track is the only one on the schedule that has three turns. The venue features various infield road course layouts according to current Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky. Pocono Raceway is located in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, and is served by Interstate 80 and Pennsylvania Route 115. Although the venue does not release official seating capacity figures due to its private ownership, Frontstretch estimated a seating capacity of 76,812 in 2021.

Did You Know?

• Pocono Raceway was formerly known as the Pocono International Raceway in early years.
• The track designer and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward designed the first turn after Trenton Speedway, the second turn after Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the third turn after the Milwaukee Mile.
• The venue's first fatality occurred during its opening program on May 4, 1969, when Troy Ruttman Jr. crashed during the feature event, suffering a fractured skull.
• After USAC's stock car racing contract expired in 1973, track owner Joseph Mattioli considered selling the track but was convinced otherwise by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.
• In 1980, the venue was leased out by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a year to help the track's financial situation.