Located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway, nicknamed "The Tricky Triangle," is a superspeedway known for hosting NASCAR events. The track holds three NASCAR national series races, including a Cup Series race supported by Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series events, all taking place in July. An ARCA Menards Series event also features on the July schedule. Historically, Pocono Raceway hosted Indy Car races from 1971-1989 and 2013-2019 and two NASCAR Cup Series races annually from 1982-2021, before the traditional first date was removed in 2022.
1959: Rodger Ward Designs Pocono Raceway
Rodger Ward, known for his Indianapolis 500 victories in 1959 and 1962, designed Pocono Raceway. His unique design incorporated turns modeled after different tracks.
1962: Rodger Ward Designs Pocono Raceway
Rodger Ward, known for his Indianapolis 500 victories in 1959 and 1962, designed Pocono Raceway. His unique design incorporated turns modeled after different tracks.
1971: First IndyCar Race at Pocono
In 1971, Pocono Raceway began hosting a 500-mile IndyCar race, adding to its reputation as a premier racing venue.
1971: First IndyCar Race at Pocono
In 1971, Pocono Raceway began hosting a 500-mile IndyCar race, adding to its reputation as a premier racing venue.
1977: Race of Champions Modified Race Begins
Pocono Raceway began hosting the prestigious Race of Champions Modified race in 1977, initially on the triangular superspeedway.
1979: Last Race of Champions on Superspeedway
The 1979 Race of Champions Modified race was the last one held on Pocono's 2.5-mile triangular superspeedway.
1980: Race of Champions Moves to Infield Oval
From 1980 onwards, the Race of Champions Modified race at Pocono Raceway shifted to the three-quarter-mile infield oval, introducing a new dynamic to the event.
1982: Second NASCAR Cup Series Race Added
Pocono Raceway added a second NASCAR Cup Series race to its schedule in 1982, further solidifying its presence in the NASCAR world.
1989: Emerson Fittipaldi's Record and IndyCar Departure
Emerson Fittipaldi set a qualifying track record at Pocono Raceway in 1989. However, due to criticisms regarding track conditions, this year marked the end of IndyCar races at Pocono for a period of time.
1989: Emerson Fittipaldi's Record and IndyCar Departure
Emerson Fittipaldi set a qualifying track record at Pocono Raceway in 1989. However, due to criticisms regarding track conditions, this year marked the end of IndyCar races at Pocono for a period of time.
1989: Emerson Fittipaldi's Record and IndyCar Departure
Emerson Fittipaldi set a qualifying track record at Pocono Raceway in 1989. However, due to criticisms regarding track conditions, this year marked the end of IndyCar races at Pocono for a period of time.
1991: Race of Champions Modified Race Ends
After 14 years, Pocono Raceway held its final Race of Champions Modified race, concluding a significant chapter in the track's history.
1991: Gear Shifting Experimentation Begins
NASCAR drivers, notably Mark Martin, experimented with gear shifting at Pocono Raceway in 1991 to enhance speed and performance, sparking debate on its impact on racing dynamics.
1992: Race of Champions Moves to Flemington
The Race of Champions Modified race was moved from Pocono Raceway to Flemington Raceway in 1992.
1993: Widespread Gear Shifting Adoption
By 1993, gear shifting, particularly using specialized Jerico transmissions, became commonplace at Pocono Raceway, influencing the track's racing strategies despite mixed driver opinions.
May 1997: Mark Martin Sets Speed Record at Talladega
Mark Martin set a new speed record at Talladega Superspeedway in May 1997, a record that stood until Juan Pablo Montoya's win at Pocono in 2014.
2005: Gear Rule Change Ends Shifting Dominance
A new gear rule implemented in 2005 effectively ended the prevalence of gear shifting at Pocono Raceway, altering the strategic landscape of races.
July 2010: Pocono Raceway Goes Solar
In July 2010, Pocono Raceway commenced the installation of a 3-megawatt solar photovoltaic system, marking a significant step towards environmental sustainability.
December 2010: Solar Farm Achieves Milestone
By December 2010, Pocono Raceway's solar farm had surpassed 1,000,000 kilowatt-hour production, demonstrating its impact on renewable energy generation.
2011: Gear Rule Revision Revives Shifting
A change in the gear rule in 2011 brought back gear shifting as a viable strategy at Pocono Raceway, reintroducing a dynamic element to the track's races.
September 30, 2012: IndyCar's Return to Pocono Announced
On September 30, 2012, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard officially confirmed the series' return to Pocono Raceway in 2013 after more than two decades, signaling a renewed interest in the track.
July 7, 2013: IndyCar Returns to Pocono
IndyCar racing returned to Pocono Raceway on July 7, 2013, marking the series' first race at the track since 1989 and reigniting the challenge of "The Tricky Triangle."
2013: Return of IndyCar and the Triple Crown
After a hiatus, IndyCar racing returned to Pocono Raceway in 2013 with a 400-mile race, later extended to 500 miles. This marked the revival of IndyCar's all-oval Triple Crown, featuring Indianapolis 500, Pocono IndyCar 400, and MAVTV 500.
2014: Montoya Wins Fastest 500-Mile Race
Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2014 Pocono IndyCar 400 with the fastest average speed in a 500-mile race, solidifying the track's reputation for high-speed competition.
August 24, 2015: Justin Wilson Fatally Injured at Pocono
Justin Wilson passed away on August 24, 2015, due to injuries sustained in a crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, casting a shadow over the event.
2018: Ryan Hunter-Reay and Robert Wickens Crash
A major crash involving Ryan Hunter-Reay and Robert Wickens in 2018 at Pocono Raceway resulted in serious injuries for Wickens, further raising concerns about driver safety at the track.
September 1, 2019: IndyCar Excludes Pocono from 2020 Schedule
On September 1, 2019, IndyCar announced its 2020 schedule, notably excluding Pocono Raceway and replacing it with Richmond Raceway, marking the end of IndyCar racing at Pocono.
2019: Felix Rosenqvist Crash and Calls for Removal
The 2019 IndyCar race at Pocono was marked by a major crash involving Felix Rosenqvist, intensifying calls for the track's removal from the schedule due to safety concerns. This year was the last time IndyCar raced at Pocono.
2019: Final IndyCar Race and Safety Concerns
The 2019 IndyCar race at Pocono was marked by a major crash involving Felix Rosenqvist, intensifying calls for the track's removal from the schedule due to safety concerns. This year was the last time IndyCar raced at Pocono.
2020: IndyCar Does Not Race at Pocono
IndyCar did not race at Pocono Raceway in 2020 after being removed from the schedule.
2021: Last Second NASCAR Cup Series Race
Pocono Raceway hosted its final second NASCAR Cup Series race in 2021, a fixture that had been on the schedule for nearly four decades.
July 2022: Fastest Official Race Lap Records Updated
As of July 2022, Pocono Raceway updated its fastest official race lap records, reflecting the constant pursuit of speed and performance on the track.
2022: Removal of the Second NASCAR Cup Series Race
Pocono Raceway discontinued its tradition of hosting two NASCAR Cup Series races, marking the removal of the long-standing first date.