LONG POND, Pa. (Sept. 22, 2016) – It turns out, the Road to Pocono Raceway leads to potential championships.
As NASCAR heads into its Chase races and as the conclusion of the Verizon IndyCar Series shows, Pocono Raceway has a lot to say with winning championships.
Kurt Busch and Chris Buescher each won NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway. Those wins, the lone victories for either driver this year, vaulted them both into the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.” Busch, in the No. 41 MONSTER Energy Chevrolet, captured the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400, while Buescher piloted his No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford to Victory Lane in the Pennsylvania 400.
Five of the 12 NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers who are in the Chase for that series, were all part of the “Pocono Raceway Takeover of Philadelphia” in early May.
Ty Dillon, Brennan Poole, Brandon Jones, Ryan Reed and Darrell Wallace Jr. all participated in a full day of activities in Philadelphia early in the season, including a lap around Center City Philadelphia, a pit stop at City Hall and events in local schools. Dillon was behind the wheel of his Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Camaro for the lap and his pit crew from RCR performed the pit stop. Wallace threw out the first pitch at the Philadelphia Phillies’ game that evening.
Kyle Larson, who won the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Pocono Raceway, the Pocono Green 250, carried over this winning momentum to qualify for the Chase after winning his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in August at Michigan International Speedway
William Byron leads a group of eight drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase. One of his five wins this season was the Pocono Mountains 150 at Pocono Raceway.
In the Verizon IndyCar Series, Will Power secured a win at Pocono Raceway in the ABC Supply 500. That victory put Power in contention to win a championship. Simon Pagenaud, despite some difficulties at Pocono Raceway, won the series championship for owner Roger Penske.
An ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver used his success at Pocono Raceway to contend for a championship as well.
Chase Briscoe took the checkered flag at the ModSpace 150 at Pocono Raceway and is atop the leaderboard with two races to go. Grant Enfinger made just two starts in the series this season but one of them was winning the General Tire #AnyWhereIsPossible 150 at the first race of the 2016 season at Pocono Raceway.
Pocono Raceway will host seven national motorsports events during the 2017 racing season, including two NASCAR Cup races and the Verizon IndyCar Series. A NASCAR XFINITY Series race, one Camping World Truck Series Race and two ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards are also on the schedule for 2017.
Tickets for all races will be on sale Oct 17 at poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY.
2017 Pocono Raceway Schedule
Friday, June 9: ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
Saturday, June 10: NASCAR XFINITY Series, FOX, 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 11: NASCAR Cup Series, Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.
Friday, July 28: ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
Saturday, July 29: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.
Sunday, July 30: NASCAR Cup Series, NBC Sports Network, 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 20: Verizon IndyCar Series
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