Tony Stewart Brings Historic Point Lead To Pocono Raceway
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet) and his Stewart-Haas Racing team arrive at Pocono Raceway this Sunday with a history-making NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point lead.
Stewart is the first owner-driver in the series to lead the series championship standings in 17 years. The last time an owner-driver led the series points was on November 15, 1992, when Alan Kulwicki won the series championship over Bill Elliott.
“Everybody respected Alan because he was an owner-driver and what he was able to accomplish,” Stewart said. “It was a little bit before I was really a die-hard NASCAR guy.”
Stewart was a 21-year-old focused on his USAC Sprint Car and Midget career when Kulwicki won the 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
“You know, you go through a time and you’re able to go back and look at how the history of the sport has evolved and what milestones and moments shaped the sport to what it is,” Stewart said. “So it’s a pretty cool moment to have your organization mentioned with his organization.”
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Stewart is excited about the progress of his team, and teammate Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet).
“I’m proud of our organization ... I’m proud of (Director of Competition) Bobby Hutchens, I’m proud of (crew chief) Darian Grubb, I’m proud of our teammate Ryan Newman, and (Newman’s crew chief) Tony Gibson and our entire organization,” Stewart said in sharing the credit for the team’s successful launch.
Newman arrives at Pocono fifth in series points riding five consecutive top-10 finishes and seven top 10s through the first 13 events of 2009. Newman also won the first pole for Stewart-Haas Racing for last month’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway where he finished second.
Both drivers have enjoyed success at Pocono, both in 2003. Stewart won the spring Pocono 500, while Newman won the summer Pennsylvania 500 from the pole. Newman also won a Pocono pole in 2007, while Stewart won a pole at Pocono in 2000.
No. 48 Team Supplies Friendly Reminder Of Recent Dominance
With their second win of the season in the rear-view mirror and a pick-up of two positions in the series championship standings, Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet are ready for the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway this Sunday.
The three-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions arrive at Pocono third in series standings and amid some serious momentum building, as they mount a charge at what would be an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship in NASCAR’s premier series.
Johnson swept both Pocono Raceway events in the 2004 season. He also has two pole awards at Pocono, including the 2008 Pennsylvania 500.
In the 2008 Pocono 500, Johnson started second and finished sixth.
Mattiolis Make Pocono Raceway A Unique, Friendly Speedway From The Top
Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania’s scenic Pocono resort area is unique to NASCAR in many ways. It is the only track of its shape – the “Tricky Triangle” they call it.
At Pocono’s helm is Dr. Joseph R. “Doc” Mattioli, who along with his wife, Dr. Rose C. Mattioli, built, struggled and ultimately flourished at the 2.5 mile triangularly shaped oval. Doc Mattioli is a congenial, energetic man, proud of Pocono’s long path to success, and even more proud of his family.
Pocono Raceway has a special feel to it for more than just competitive racing. Three generations of the Mattioli family are involved with operating the track, and a fourth generation is coming up from the cradle. The Mattiolis strive to make their facility fan friendly and family friendly while seeing to the comfort of those who participate in racing there as well.
“Pocono is special in NASCAR history because of the family that owns and operates it… the Mattiolis, Doc and Rose,” said NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter. “They invested everything they owned to make their unique track successful”.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes to the track for the 63rd time in the June 7 Pocono 500, continuing a relationship that dates back to the first race in 1974.
Pocono Raceway had a difficult time in its early years. The Pocono NASCAR race was one of the first ventures outside its traditional southeastern base. USAC Indy Car racing had been Pocono’s marquee event when the track opened in 1971. By the mid-1970s, however, Mattioli’s race track was suffering financially due to ongoing repairs of original construction and he began contemplating its sale.
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Bill France Sr. didn’t want Mattioli to throw in the towel.
“My son Joe and I flew to New York to meet Bill to talk about it,” Mattioli said. “We argued about it, but he was a dear friend, too. He took out one of his business cards and wrote this on the back of it: ‘On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of millions who when within grasp of victory sat and waited and waiting died.’ He wanted us to stay the course, and he convinced us to stay with it, and I still carry that card with me. Bill and his wife Anne B. came to Pocono and helped us the first few years. I still think of them every time I look at our grandstands on race day.”
At NASCAR’s request, Pocono added a second NASCAR race in 1982. The Indy Car race lasted through 1989.
“When Ontario Motor Speedway closed after their 1980 race, Bill wanted us to take a second race because NASCAR needed the races,” Mattioli said. “We had our NASCAR race in June and our CART Indy Car race in July. For August, I didn’t think three 500-mile races in three months would work for us. We argued about it but we ended up adding the August race in 1982. It worked out great.”
Grandsons Brandon and Nick Igdalsky serve as the track’s President and Senor Vice President. Granddaughter Ashley Igdalsky is a Vice President and is in charge of construction. Grandson Chase Mattioli is a Vice President. He and Nick are sharing a road racing ride in the KONI Sports Car Challenge Series. Chase also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Series East in 2008 and in ARCA in 2009, while Nick helps operate the Mattioli-owned South Boston (Va.) Motor Speedway, a NASCAR Whelen All American Series track where he has also raced.
Pocono Raceway has been in almost a constant state of evolution since 1990, with millions of dollars of improvements and renovations made each year.
Reflecting on his 84th birthday in April, Mattioli recalls being raised in a house with no electricity or plumbing, going to a two-room schoolhouse and growing or raising all the food the family ate; of serving in the Marine Corps in World War II; benefiting from the G.I. Bill to be educated to become a dentist; running away with wife Rose to be married more than 60 years ago; to being founder and CEO of Pocono Raceway What in his lifetime makes him most proud?
“My family,” he says in an instant. “We have a wonderful relationship, we all live here and everybody is involved with the track. When you have a family like that, you appreciate them.”
Pocono, Etc. …
Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono on August 4, 1974.
Bill Elliott has the most Pocono victories all-time with five.
Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) has the most top fives (19) and the most top 10s (31).
The Mattiolis have presented the Bill France Award of Excellence in the NASCAR community annually since 1977. The 2009 award winner is Chris Economaki of National Speed Sport News.
The Mattiolis’ South Boston (Va.) Speedway, a .400-mile NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track, is helping bring the next generation of drivers along. Jeb Burton, son of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, is competing in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston, where Ward and brother Jeff each launched their NASCAR careers.
Pocono 500 Good News For Hendrick, Gibbs And Penske Teams
Holding top-12 positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points upon arrival at Pocono Raceway this week should be reason for optimism for several top teams.
Pocono has been the site of success for Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing. The teams account for six of the top-seeded drivers in the standings, and 23 Pocono victories.
Hendrick Motorsports is Pocono’s all-time leading win producer with 11. Hendrick drivers Jeff Gordon (4), the late Tim Richmond (3), Jimmie Johnson (2), Geoffrey Bodine (1) and Terry Labonte (1) have contributed to the Pocono win total. Veteran Mark Martin, Hendrick’s newest driver, has not yet been to Pocono’s Victory Lane, nor has second year team driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet).
Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing have six Pocono victories each.
Bobby Labonte (No. 96 ASK.com Ford) swept both Pocono events for Gibbs in 1999, and added another win in 2001. Tony Stewart took one Pocono win in 2003. Current Gibbs driver Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota) dominated Pocono in 2006 sweeping both event pole awards and races. Gibbs’ rookie driver Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) will be making his first Pocono start this weekend, while teammate Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) is still looking for his first Pocono win.
Penske Racing also has six Pocono wins, including four scored by retired driver Rusty Wallace in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 2000. Former team driver Ryan Newman got a Pocono win in 2003 while current driver Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) won there in 2007. Busch’s new teammate David Stremme (No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge) is looking for his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win.
Solo winners Stewart and Newman are now teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing.
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In addition, Roush Fenway Racing has posted three Pocono wins with Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford) in 2005 and last year’s Pennsylvania 500, and with Kurt Busch in 2005.
Richard Childress Racing has a pair of Pocono wins, both with the Dale Earnhardt in 1987 and 1993.
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