Fast Facts: Pocono Raceway

By: Paula Thompson

Pocono Raceway is known as the “Tricky Triangle” in part because of its shape, but also because its three distinct turns, modeled after three other tracks around the country. Here are some other interesting facts about one of NASCAR’s largest speedways.
  • The three tracks in question: the now-defunct Trenton Speedway (Turn One – 14 degrees of banking), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Turn Two – nine degrees of banking) and The Milwaukee Mile (Turn Three – six degrees of banking). These different turns and different straightaways make set-ups difficult for crews.
  • Pocono Raceway is one of the few independently owned tracks in NASCAR. The Mattiolli family, also owners of South Boston Speedway in Virginia, has owned the track since 1968.
  • Pocono Raceway used to host IndyCar races as well as NASCAR, and also once housed a 3/4-mile track; the 3/4-mile track was used for the Modified Race of Champions from 1980 to 1992.
  • Pocono Raceway currently hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends each year, along with the ARCA Racing Series as a companion race on each weekend. In 2010, the Camping World Truck Series joined the schedule for the second weekend.
  • The qualifying record at the track is currently held by Kasey Kahne (172.533 mph set in 2004). Bill Elliott has the most career wins at the track (five) and Ken Schrader has the most career poles (five). Denny Hamlin has the best record at the track in recent years, with four wins, eight top 10s and two poles.
  • Pocono Raceway installed 40,000 photovoltaic modules at the track in 2010, and upon completion of the project, Pocono became the largest solar-powered sports facility in the world; the project will produce over 72 million kilowatt hours of energy over the next 20 years. Pocono is also part of Pepsi’s Dream Machine recycling program.
  • Find out more about Pocono Raceway at http://www.poconoraceway.com/.
Fast Facts: Pocono Raceway Fast Facts: Pocono Raceway Reviewed by Admin on Thursday, June 09, 2011 Rating: 5