43 of NASCAR’s elite Sprint Cup teams will be busy this week preparing for a road trip to Long Pond, Pennsylvania where they will have to take on the always challenging Pocono Raceway. This uniquely triangular shaped track has three turns along with one short and one extremely long straightaway. That means Sunday’s race is going to be a physical challenge for the drivers. It will also be a test of endurance on the cars. This track is notorious for taxing engines, transmissions and brakes. It also means the crew chiefs are going to seriously earn their paychecks. Pre race sets up for such an oddly shaped track often becomes a case of “it is what it is” and adjustments during pit stops will be the order of the day. The chiefs will also be taking a lot of notes this weekend because the series will be returning to this track on August 2nd.
Making Sunday’s race even more interesting will be the likely debut of double file restarts. By the time you read this, NASCAR will be expected to make an official announcement regarding the initiation of the double file restart program. This essentially means that, following a caution flag, the drivers on the lead lap will line up two by two based on their running order in the race. The consideration for this move has already been lauded by many. It’s expected to add an additional element of excitement especially during the latter stages of the race. More importantly it’s also a safety issue. The double file restart means the leaders won’t have to endure the trauma of dealing with slower lapped cars lined up on the inside of the track.
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THE RACE BREAKDOWN.
The Pocono 500 is 200 laps/500 miles long.
The track is a massive 2.5 miles in length. It’s shaped like a triangle meaning it only has three turns.
Despite its size the speedway is basically flat. Turn one only has 14 degrees of banking, turn two is banked 8 degrees and there is only 6 degrees banking in turn three.
The track presently seats 100,000 fans.
The pit road speed is 55 MPH.
The Pocono Raceway opened in 1968 as a three quarter mile oval. It was remodeled to its present shape and size in the early seventies. The first race on the 2.5 mile tri oval was in 1971.
The very first NASCAR Cup race was staged there in 1974 and was won by Richard Petty.
Bill Elliot has the most all time wins at the raceway with five.
Chevrolet has the most manufacturer wins with 23.
Hendrick Motorsports has the most team wins with 11.
The defending race winner is Kasey Kahne.
Carl Edwards won the second race in August of last year.
Kasey Kahne also holds the track qualifying record, 172.533 MPH, which he set last year prior to winning the race.
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