On the Right Track

A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Gluck

Do something about boring Pocono races

May 30
FAR, FAR AWAY FROM LONG POND, Pa. – I wasn't at Pocono Raceway this week for the Sprint Cup test, but colleague Bob Pockrass was, and I probably owe him a beer (or 10) for that.

Pocono is not a place I prefer to spend much time, a feeling shared by the vast majority of the NASCAR garage.

One driver told me last weekend that Pocono is "the worst place we go." Well, duh.

It's in the middle of nowhere, the atmosphere and facilities are not fitting of a major sporting event, and they race on a triangle – in extremely boring fashion, at that.

When's the last time you heard someone say, "Wow, did you see that Pocono race? That was great!"

Never. You're more likely to hear someone say Kasey Kahne is fat.

Anyway, I was delighted last week when Bruton Smith announced that his new acquisition, Kentucky Speedway, would have a Sprint Cup race next year.

Conventional wisdom said the only way he could accomplish such a thing would be to buy Pocono and close it down, moving one race to Kentucky and one race to Las Vegas.

Trading a trip to Pocono for a trip to Vegas? I was doing backflips over the news, and I didn't even need to stand on top of my car like Carl Edwards.

Then the aforementioned Pockrass sat down with Pocono's owner, Dr. Joe Mattioli, on Wednesday.

Because of many reasons you can read in Pockrass' story, Mattioli made it crystal clear that Pocono isn't for sale – at least probably for the next 30 years.

Darn.

If things stay the way they are, that's approximately 60 more races at Pocono, which is 30,000 more miles.

It's only 25,000 miles to get around the entire planet. I think I'd rather take that trip – on foot – than watch 60 more Pocono races.

Someone has to do something. But who?

NASCAR probably won't act. First of all, the track is as close as it gets to the New York City media market. Second, Mattioli wisely befriended the France family to such an extent that it can't really betray him.

How about shortening the races at least? Again, NASCAR likely won't make such a change unless its TV partners agree. After all, 500 miles of boring racing allows for many, many commercial breaks.

The only solution I can see for now is for fans to write to TNT and ABC/ESPN and plead with them to give NASCAR the OK to shorten the races.

If not, wish me luck on my walking trip around the world.

Average Rating: 2.3

Comments

4 responses to "Do something about boring Pocono races"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jun 1, 2008 at 12:25 AM

    SURE Pocono is the SINGLE MOST BORING track on the circuit BUT!!!! don't mistake all of your readers as FOOLS and IDIOTS who can't see that you are TRYING to use this lame track as a springboard to promote you and Perkross's agenda to shorten races to make YOUR CHOSEN job easier!!!! Are you kidding? Switch to the bowling beat brother!!!....12 frames only takes an hour or so!!.....leaving plenty of time for you to go roller-blading.

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  2. 2
    Kris Leonia said:
    Jun 2, 2008 at 5:55 AM

    Pocono needs to go. The races are about exciting as watching a Curling match. I'd rather see Kentucky get its track dates rather than this place. The sad part is Pocono "COULD" be a good track.... if the race length was shorter to not make it so long and drawn out. Won't happen though, we all know how much Nascar loves their commercials!

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  3. 3
    charles jackson said:
    Jun 3, 2008 at 4:34 AM

    Pocono needs to stay! Seen better racing at Pocono than at all the roadcourses! Just need to update the faculies their!Road courses such as Sonona, Watkins Glen, is as boring as it gets, causes more expense to teams to build special cars for these two unique tracks! Nascar if you are thinking about track closing, put the road courses on your list, and get the Southern 500 back at Darlington on Labor Day!

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  4. 4
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 3, 2008 at 8:00 PM

    Well, get started on your trip because I quite frankly think that Bruton has enough race tracks and for sure enough money.He has enough on his plate revamping the dump at Martinsville. Let someone else own a track. Don't use the rational about commercials--geez, have you watched ANY races lately?

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