Ctrp 1207 Pocono Past More From The Tricky Triangle 003
Ctrp 1207 Pocono Past More From The Tricky Triangle 003
The NASCAR Winston Cup cars of Cale Yarborough (No. 11) and Benny Parsons (No. 72) sit at the head of the starting grid. From this vantage point you can gain a real appreciation for how wide, long, and expansive Pocono’s pit road actually is.
The NASCAR Winston Cup cars of Cale Yarborough (No. 11) and Benny Parsons (No. 72) sit at

With the passing of Dr. Joe Mattioli, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Pocono Raceway, we went digging into the Circle Track archives to find some vintage pictures that we could share in the main story you read back on page 66. However, when we found a file folder an inch thick of historical photos we knew we had to show some more of them off here in "From the Vault." Pocono Raceway is one of the most, if not the most, unique track on the NASCAR schedule. Boasting a 2.5-mile triangular configuration, it's three turns all have different degrees of banking--14 degrees in Turn 1, 8 degrees in Turn 2, and 6 degrees in Turn 3. The straights are banked 2 degrees and like the turns all three are different lengths. The frontstretch is the longest at 3,740 feet with the backstretch measuring 3,055 feet. The shortest, also known as the Long Pond Straight, 1,780 feet. The seating capacity is officially 76,812, but the infield contains room for many, many more.

  • Ctrp 1207 Pocono Past More From The Tricky Triangle 004
    Pocono Founder Dr. Joe Mattioli (right); his wife, Rose; and their son, Joe Mattioli III, pose for a shot on pit road. A graduate of the dentistry program at Temple University (where he met Rose), Mattioli built a thriving dental practice before investing in and developing properties in Philadelphia and northeastern Pennsylvania where he became involved in the start up of Pocono Raceway.
    Pocono Founder Dr. Joe Mattioli (right); his wife, Rose; and their son, Joe Mattioli III,
  • Ctrp 1207 Pocono Past More From The Tricky Triangle 005
    A busy pit road at Pocono during a NASCAR race. Look toward the back left of the picture. Can you see the cars five-wide with room to spare?
    A busy pit road at Pocono during a NASCAR race. Look toward the back left of the picture.
  • Ctrp 1207 Pocono Past More From The Tricky Triangle 006
    Pocono isn’t just for NASCAR. The Mattiolis hosted a number of different series over the years including the R.O.C. Modifieds.
    Pocono isn’t just for NASCAR. The Mattiolis hosted a number of different series over the y
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