To be honest, it’s been difficult to get race fans in a state of excitement for this track. The race broadcast is usually drawn out with a lot of single file racing of cars just strung about the track. But for the fans in the grandstands the experience is completely different.
Long Pond, PA has a fan in mind feel, and it’s the track that is always trying to add new and exciting things to keep you coming back for more.
In an interview with Brett Griffin, spotter for the No. 19 team of Richard Petty Motorsports, he described a view that truly paints a picture.
“Pocono is a very unique track. It's a triangle. Turn 1 has banking, turn 2 (the tunnel turn) is super fast with not a lot of banking and turn 3 is very flat but very important because exiting turn 3 puts you on the longest straightaway in NASCAR. The grand stands are only located on the front stretch and the fans love stock car racing. The bleachers are always full.”
What do you think of when someone says Pocono?
Most of us would think of the beautiful mountains worthy of heavenly honeymoons. Race Fans would reference the unique track in Long Pond and the experiences they have had there. Thirty-one people in and around the Cup garage, however, think of being close to home.
Race teams see Pocono as a test of patience and a true measure of crew and driver endurance.
It is difficult to imagine that a track that is so beautiful could cause teams such issues. But the triangle track known as Pocono is truly a trial to undertake.
When asked about Pocono in a NASCAR teleconference this week Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing said, “When we went to the Car of Tomorrow, we kind of lost our edge at that racetrack it seemed like we had with the older car. We've always been competitive there.”
In June however, Hamlin was never a factor for the win, although he’s still confident heading into this weekend’s event. “Never got a shot, it seemed. The very first lap, had fuel pump issues. But really we always just run well there. I think it's a racetrack that just kind of tends to my style a little bit. We go there, Mike [Ford, crew chief] has a good feel for what we need in a racecar at that racetrack. So I think it's no matter what the car, we're always going to be competitive.”
Because of the impossible set ups, the difficult lap navigation, and the long drawn out racing that Pocono Raceway can dish out only a few drivers have swept both Pocono races in one year. Those drivers include the likes of Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Tim Richmond, Bobby Labonte, Jimmie Johnson, as well as aforementioned Denny Hamlin.
Points leader Tony Stewart wants to join that list this weekend with his No. 14 Old Spice Swagger Chevrolet. What really has this team “Rev’d Up” is that Stewart has the opportunity to also hold the record as the first Owner/Driver to pull off the Pocono double.
