Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway at a glance
- Location
- Long Pond, Pennsylvania
- Type
- oval
- Length
- 2.5 mi (4.023 km)
- Turns
- 3
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Banking
- Turn 1: 14°, Turn 2: 8°, Turn 3: 6°
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1971
- Owner
- Mattco, Inc.
- Capacity
- 76,812
- Address
- 1234 Long Pond Road
- Phone
- +1 800-722-3929
- Website
- poconoraceway.com
Track map and layout
Pocono Raceway is unlike any other track NASCAR visits, a 2.5-mile triangular oval with three distinct corners rather than the usual four, each one modeled after a different classic track: Turn 1 after Trenton Speedway, Turn 2 after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Turn 3 after the Milwaukee Mile. Each turn also carries its own banking, from 14 degrees down to just 6 degrees, and each is connected by a long straightaway, so cars need three different setups to work through a single lap. That combination has earned Pocono its nickname, the Tricky Triangle, since a car dialed in for one corner is rarely ideal for the next. The infield also holds a shorter road course configuration built to take advantage of the oval's long straights for club racing and driving programs.
Named corners and sections
- Turn 1. modeled after Trenton Speedway, the steepest banking on the track at 14 degrees
- Turn 2. modeled after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, banked at 8 degrees
- Turn 3. modeled after the Milwaukee Mile, the flattest corner at 6 degrees
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5-mile tri-oval | 2.5 mi | primary NASCAR configuration, three distinct corners |
| Infield road course | — | shorter road-course layout used for club racing and driving programs, using parts of the oval's long straights |
Events and race weekends
Pocono has hosted NASCAR Cup Series racing since 1974 and, in recent years, has typically run one Cup weekend a year (down from two annual dates it held for decades), often paired with an ARCA Menards Series race on the same weekend. The track also formerly hosted CART/IndyCar racing from 1971 to 1989 and again from 2013 to 2019, before IndyCar departed the schedule again. Its long straights and unique three-turn layout have made it a distinctive stop whenever open-wheel and stock car series have raced there.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono | NASCAR Cup Series | June or July | the Tricky Triangle's marquee weekend |
| ARCA Menards Series race | ARCA Menards Series | June or July | support race on the same weekend |
Getting there and parking
Pocono Raceway sits in the Pocono Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania, near Long Pond, roughly 90 minutes from both the Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and about two hours from New York City and Philadelphia. There is no major commercial airport nearby; most fans drive in from the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia corridor. The two-lane roads leading into the raceway see heavy congestion on race weekends given the rural setting.
- Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) · about 75 min drive
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) · about 60 min drive
Parking
General parking is available in surface lots around the track, typically included with or sold alongside race tickets; lots open several hours ahead of green flag.
Expect slow-moving traffic on the rural roads approaching the raceway; many fans camp on-site to avoid the drive entirely on race morning.
Hotels and camping near Pocono Raceway
The Pocono Mountains region has a large stock of resort hotels, cabins and vacation rentals built up around the area's tourism industry, so lodging options extend well beyond the immediate track area, though many still sell out for the Cup Series weekend. Visitors also commonly stay in the Lehigh Valley or Scranton/Wilkes-Barre areas and drive in. On-site camping remains the most popular option for regulars given the rural setting and limited nearby town infrastructure.
Where to look
Pocono Mountains resort towns near the track, or the Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre areas for a wider hotel selection
Camping
Pocono Raceway operates an extensive seasonal and race-weekend campground, with most reserved and 50-amp family camping located around Turn 3, plus amenities including a pool, showers and a dog park.
RV
RV camping ranges from dry sites to full-hookup 50-amp, water and sewer sites that can accommodate large rigs; reservations can be made in advance or arranged on arrival depending on availability.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Pocono's long straights and unique triangular layout are available to the public through the Stock Car Racing Experience, which runs ride-along and behind-the-wheel driving sessions on the tri-oval on select dates. Ride-alongs put a guest in the passenger seat for laps with a professional driver, while driving experiences let participants pilot a stock car themselves after instruction; the track's infield road course also hosts SCCA club racing and driving-school days.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndyCar qualifying (tri-oval) | 0:40.9009 | Ryan Briscoe | — | 2014 |
| NASCAR Cup Series qualifying | 0:51.298 | Kyle Busch | — | 2017 |
Spectator guide
Because Pocono's three corners each have different geometry and banking, the view varies noticeably depending on where you sit: Turn 1 offers the steepest, fastest-looking action, while Turn 3, the flattest corner, tends to show the most passing as cars search for grip. The long straights mean fans can watch cars accelerate hard away from one corner and brake deep into the next, a rhythm unlike any other NASCAR oval.
Seating
Frontstretch grandstands cover the start/finish area between Turns 3 and 1; turn seating at each of the three distinct corners offers a different character of racing to watch.
Best places to watch
Seats near Turn 3, the flattest and most passing-heavy corner, are popular with regulars who want to see the most action.
Bag policy
Clear-bag guidance applies at the gates; check the current fan guide before arrival for size limits and prohibited items.
Weather
- June-July: warm summer weather, highs typically in the 75-85°F range, chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the Pocono Mountains
History of Pocono Raceway
Building the Tricky Triangle
Pocono Raceway opened in an initial oval configuration on May 4, 1969, before being reconstructed into its now-famous triangular, three-turn layout that debuted on July 19, 1971, at a construction cost of about six million dollars. Rather than repeat the same corner geometry four times like a standard oval, the track's designers modeled each of Pocono's three turns after a different classic American track: Trenton Speedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Milwaukee Mile. The result was a layout unlike anything else in American racing, quickly nicknamed the Tricky Triangle for how differently a car handles in each corner.
Open-wheel and stock car eras
Pocono hosted USAC and later CART/IndyCar racing from its earliest years through 1989, and NASCAR's Cup Series arrived in 1974, giving the track a long dual identity with open-wheel and stock car racing sharing the calendar for two decades. IndyCar returned to Pocono in 2013 after a long absence but departed again in 2019 amid safety concerns following a fatal crash, leaving NASCAR as the track's primary tenant. IMSA sports car racing also visited Pocono at points in its history before being discontinued.
A family-run speedway
Unlike most major American ovals, Pocono has remained independently owned throughout its history, operated by Mattco, Inc. under the Igdalsky family, who built the track and have continued to run it for generations. That independence has made Pocono something of an outlier in an era when most large speedways have been absorbed by NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports.
Present day
The Cup Series schedule has settled to a single Pocono weekend in recent seasons, down from the two annual dates the track held for decades, typically paired with an ARCA Menards Series race. The Tricky Triangle remains one of the most unusual and demanding tracks on the calendar, and its long straights continue to attract high speeds and, on the infield road course, club racing and driving programs open to the public.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Pocono Raceway?+
It is a 2.5-mile triangular oval, the longest track NASCAR's Cup Series regularly visits after Daytona and Talladega, with three distinct corners rather than four.
Why is Pocono Raceway called the Tricky Triangle?+
Each of its three turns was modeled after a different classic track (Trenton, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee) with its own banking, so a car set up well for one corner is rarely ideal for the next.
Who owns Pocono Raceway?+
Pocono remains independently owned and operated by Mattco, Inc., under the Igdalsky family, unlike most major NASCAR tracks, which are owned by NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports.
Does IndyCar still race at Pocono?+
No. IndyCar raced at Pocono from 1971-1989 and again from 2013-2019, but left the schedule again after 2019 following safety concerns.
Can the public drive at Pocono Raceway?+
Yes, the Stock Car Racing Experience runs scheduled ride-along and behind-the-wheel driving sessions on the tri-oval, and the infield road course hosts SCCA club track days.
Is there camping at Pocono Raceway?+
Yes, Pocono operates an extensive seasonal and race-weekend campground with dry and full-hookup RV sites, much of it clustered around Turn 3.
Other tracks nearby
- Watkins Glen International · 115 mi · road course
- New Jersey Motorsports Park · 120 mi · road course
- Lime Rock Park · 125 mi · road course
- Dover Motor Speedway · 129 mi · oval
- Summit Point Motorsports Park · 181 mi · road course
- Palmer Motorsport Park · 187 mi · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.