My rant about drivers....

who ask why there are cup races run at Pocono. I know the track needs a total makeover, and the garage isn't the fanciest, (and to those drivers who feel it should be updated, why not ask the Mattioli's if there's some way you can help) To those of us who live in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania, NASCAR at Pocono is a huge deal. (and when I say huge, I mean HUGE) It's as huge to us as the Little League World Series is to South Williamsport. It's seriously like a slap in the face to Pennsylvania race fans when a driver is quoted as saying something like that. What? Are we not good enough to have a NASCAR race in our home state or the two we currently host for that matter? When I hear someone ask that, I feel like saying, "Well then why do you race at any other track that is on the schedule?" To me, unique is better. There are so many race tracks that have the same shape. (Oval, "D" shape, etc) Pocono presents more of a challenge to the drivers, and a challenge every now and then is a good thing. Sure, Pocono isn't near or in a city, but who said a race track has to be near a city in order to have a race run there? We l-o-v-e having the drivers up here for three days. (six really, if you count the three in June and the three in August together) It gives us a chance to say thank you, good luck, you're my favorite driver, put Kyle Busch in the wall for me (lol, just kidding on that last one), but you see what I mean. The Mattioli's have fought hard to keep people (mostly ones whos last name end in Smith) from buying the track from them, and that's what makes Pocono a great place to race. It's a family owned and operated race track and there are seldom tracks that are like that anymore. Last year, I had an awesome time at the August race with my father, got to sit at the very end (right after the exit of turn 3), paid a very reasonable price for where our seats were located, (the family section at Pocono is at track level, which is where we sat) and although we couldn't see the start/finish line, (or Carl do his back flip), we still had fun. So are both races at Pocono worth it? You bet they are, even though it's mostly humid, the miles the drivers put in driving those cars is worth it. After all, the sport is driven by the fans..... right? So please drivers, quit complaining about the track, have fun on The Tricky Triangle, and above all, enjoy your time here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

An article on Pocono and Dr. Rose -- Five things about ... Pocono's Dr. Rose Mattioli