First-Time Fan Guide

Pocono Raceway is located just minutes off of interstate 80 in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. When coming for race weekend be sure to arrive early. We always recommend planning to arrive no later than 10am on race day! This will allow you time to enjoy all the pre-race activities that take place behind the grandstand.

Parking lots open 2 hours prior to listed gate times. Our main grandstand parking lots are accessible by using Gate 5 (Andretti Road) or Gate 7 (Hulman Drive). When using Apple or Google Maps, be sure you are plugged in for one of these two entry points and not our Gate 1 Tunnel (unless you have infield parking. For more detailed information on directions, click here.

Grandstand Parking is FREE. You are permitted to tailgate by your vehicle as long as you are not blocking any roadways. Welcome to Pocono & enjoy!

Gates open at 11:30a.m. on Friday and 8:00a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Get here and get in early to take advantage of the the full day. As you pack up your cooler (yes, coolers are allowed!) and apply your sunscreen, look towards the grandstand and the giant American Flag – that is where our entry gates are.

Upon approaching our gates you will first go through a security check point. Follow the instructions of the event staff to ensure a fast and safe entry. Please be courteous, especially at busy times. Make yourself familiar with permitted/ prohibited items ahead of time.

Once through security, you will then get your tickets scanned. You can either enter into Fan Fair (Vendors & Displays) or head right to your seats and follow the path down to Gate 8 – our main ticket gate. Be sure to have your tickets ready. This is also a good time to connect to our FREE WiFi. Look for #PoconoFreeFanWiFi.

Fan Fair is the perfect stop before you head to your seat for the race. We recommend to give yourself plenty of time to experience all that it has to offer. Fan Fair features many vendors and displays from our many partners and more! Enjoy fun games, giveaways, interactive experiences and so much more. At the top of Fan Fair is our Veteran’s Village – here you will find military displays as well as many resources for veterans as well as current active duty members of our military. Here you will also find our Kids Zone which features a FREE carnival! Kids will be able to enjoy multiple rides as well many kid friendly activities in this area.

Fan Fair is also the place to visit your favorite driver’s merchandise hauler and load up on merch to assist you in cheering them on. We also have Pocono Raceway merchandise. Be sure to check out this year’s event t-shirt! If you have questions be sure to stop at the Pocono Raceway Fan Welcome Tent. Here you can also learn about our renewal process, if you would like to join us next year!

Last but not least the Fan Stage in Fan Fair is the hub for FREE Driver Appearances throughout the weekend. Check the schedule to catch one of the many Driver Q&A sessions that are planned. When a driver is not on the stage, you can expect some great live music or entertainment! See we told you to give yourself plenty of time. You could be here for a while!

Once you have taken advantage of all that Fan Fair has to offer… you are almost ready to get to your seats. But first you will walk through our Midway. This is where you will find a line as long as the grandstand filled with concessions and more! There is something for everyone to enjoy in this long line of amazing food options. Also in the midway you will find our restrooms. Conveniently also stretching a majority of the length of the grandstand.

For expanded food and beverage options upgrade your experience with a Paddock Pass. The Paddock Pass gives you access to the area that is between the garages and pit road. Some would consider this like getting on the field ahead of a football game. The Paddock features additional food trucks as well as our Paddock Cafeteria. There are so many additional perks as well with a Paddock Pass covered in the added experiences section below. The Paddock can be accessed by using the pedestrian tunnel under the track. You enter the tunnel near Elevator 3 in the Midway.

The historic Pocono Raceway Grandstand might look daunting if it is your first time but not to worry we have you covered. Our grandstand is split into 3 Towers. The Petty, France and Donohue Tower. The Petty Tower is closer towards Turn 3 and the Donohue Tower is closer towards Turn 1, with the France Tower right in the middle.

When you look at our grandstand from behind (the way you are coming in) the Donohue Tower is on your right and the the Petty Tower is on your left. The Sections start at 101, 201, and 301 to your right in the Donohue Tower (right) and count up until the end of the grandstand in the Petty Tower. The Grandstand also has 3 different levels. 100 Level is closest to the track, 200 level in the middle and 300 Level up top (Shaded). Terrace Club is also in our 300 Level – specifically in the France Tower.

If you need assistance finding your seat please visit anyone of our guest services locations by finding the “?” Icon or follow the wayfinding signs below the grandstand.

Great you have found your seats! Now what are you looking at? Well that is The Tricky Triangle. Our track hosted its first IndyCar race on the 2.5 mile track in 1971 followed by our first NASCAR race in 1974. We have had at least one NASCAR race here in the Pocono Mountains every year since! When you look to your right you will be starring down the longest straightaway in NASCAR all the way down to Turn 1. To your left will be the always tricky Turn 3. Right in the middle is the start/finish line. There is not a bad seat in the house to see the action right in front of you on pit road. You might be asking, why a triangle?

The three unique turns inspired by famous tracks- Turn 1: Trenton Speedway, Turn 2: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Turn 3: The Milwaukee Mile. This creates one of the most unique tracks on the NASCAR schedule. Drivers & teams often say it is impossible to set up the car properly for all 3 turns, creating a challenge for all involved. We are the only track on the circuit with just 3 Turns, thus – the wall in Turn 3 that simply states: What Turn 4?

Welcome to Pocono! We are glad you have purchased tickets or are considering joining us for our NASCAR Race Weekend. Once you have secured your seats the fun begins. Here are some helpful tips on what to pack as well as resources to checkout before your visit.

Coolers are welcome at Pocono so be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks for the kids. Coolers cannot be larger than 14x14x14, please pack accordingly. The main rule with coolers is no glass is permitted.

We recommend hearing protection be sure to bring your noise cancelling personal headphones. We highly recommend downloading the NASCAR Tracks App prior to arrival. Not only is this a good resource and a direct link to our event guide but you can also login to listen to the radio broadcast as well as team and driver audio. If we weren’t clear the first time…. DOWNLOAD THE NASCAR TRACKS APP.

Another option and if you purchase your tickets in advance consider adding a Racing Electronics Scanner Rental to your order. Not only do these scanners provide hearing protection but you can also tune into the radio broadcast to better follow along with what is going on in the race. Not only that but you can also listen to the drivers and team radios!

Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection and plenty of water, remember coolers are permitted. If you forget something not to worry we have you covered in our Fan Fair or in our Midway!

Here is a little information on the races.

Friday, June 12

The ARCA Menards Series is on track on Friday to kick off race weekend. The race is 150 Miles which equates to a total of 60 laps. ARCA features many up and coming drivers. The ARCA Menards Series has been racing at Pocono since the early 1980’s with a small hiatus the last few years they are making their return in 2026. The race begins at 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 13

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series are the stars of Saturday at Pocono. This series is the second-tier series within NASCAR’s National Touring divisions. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has held a race at Pocono annually since 2016. This years race is entitled the MillerTech Battery 250 presented by KOA and begins at 4 p.m. It is a 250 Mile race which equates to 100 Laps. In addition to this race the NASCAR Cup Series is also on the track on Saturday for their Practice and Qualifying Session.

Sunday, June 14

The NASCAR Cup Series headlines race weekend on Sunday. The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISIT PA gets underway at 3 p.m. The Race is 400 miles which equates to 160 laps. Be sure to arrive to your seats about a half hour or so prior to catch the pre-race ceremonies including the National Anthem and flyover.

Check out the full schedule here.

The are many ways to add to your Pocono Experience. Whether it be additional access passes like our Paddock Pass or taking advantage of one of our exclusive driver experiences, we have something for everyone to add if you are looking for the full experience.

The Paddock is your key to a more behind-the -scenes experience. Think about it this way – you can actually get on track and in the pits before the race. On Sunday fans are permitted out onto the track to sign the start/finish line.

In addition to that you can get right down next to Victory Lane following the race to celebrate a few feet from the winning driver. Not to mention the expanded food and beverage options as well as unique viewing opportunities. Be sure to also check out the view of the track on top of the viewing platform located near the tunnel in the paddock.

Apart from the paddock we also offer many exclusive driver experience packages. Click here to learn more. (if they are not yet sold out)

Learn more about the Pocono Experience Here.

The Checkered flag has flown and you are ready to go home. If you had a great time which we totally hope that you did you can actually go to poconoraceway.com/renew and place a $50 deposit down on tickets for 2027. The best part is that this locks you in to a 20% discount on most tickets as well when you renew. Visit one of our renewal tents in the Fan Fair or Midway during the event to place your deposit and ask any questions that you may have.

Through the renewal process you will also have the option to choose different seats and upgrade your experience for 2027 all while still saving when you purchase your tickets during this period!