‘Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports’ – Pocono’s History in Pictures


With the passing of Dr. Joseph Mattioli last month and the upcoming NASCAR and ARCA Racing seasons coming up in a few short weeks, Pocono Raceway will be full of activity once again in June and August of 2012. This unique 2.5-mile track, with its three distinct turns and long straightaways, is sometimes likened more to a road course than a superspeedway, and has given more than a handful of drivers grief and heartache in its 40-plus-year history. It has hosted a variety of racing series, from NASCAR’s oldest division, the Modifieds, to IndyCars and most recently the Camping World Truck Series, and some of the biggest names in the sport of auto racing – “Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports” by Gene A. Card puts this track’s story in pictures.

From the front cover, featuring the legendary A.J. Foyt in a stock car, to the back of the book, with a huge grin from Kenny Wallace, the book offers fans a pictorial look at the history of Pocono Raceway: its groundbreaking in 1965, its inaugural USAC (IndyCar) open-wheel race in 1971, the debut of NASCAR’s Cup Series in 1974, Modified Race of Champions events and much more. Drivers pictured along the way: Mario Andretti, USAC champ Roger McCluskey, Johnny Rutherford, Janet Guthrie, Richard Petty and the late Tim Richmond among many others. Along the way, there are introductions to the various “eras” of the track’s history, and stories about the drivers, celebrities and cars that have appeared at the track.

“Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports” is a fitting tribute to the vision of “Doc” Mattioli, and a great read for students of the history of auto racing and its famed tracks.

“Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports” and other books featured in Race Fan’s Book Shelf are available through Amazon.com.
‘Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports’ – Pocono’s History in Pictures ‘Pocono Raceway: Images of Sports’ – Pocono’s History in Pictures Reviewed by Paula on Wednesday, February 08, 2012 Rating: 5