Arca race a prelude for the cup race

Since the Arca race run today is the first racing on the newly paved 2.5 mile triple turn track the question in the media center is will it be a prelude for tomorrow's race?

This race was unique to say the least. A hard hit with the 32 car on the pace lap even before the pace car lights had gone off. Then the first actual caution came about at lap 16 and a few other cautions throughout the race. With 25 laps to go Keven Swindell had his 3rd tire go down an bring out another caution and worrying Brenden Poole who also races for the Venturini team.

There was not a second grove, or at least not one that worked well, for this race, which begs the question if a second grove can come in tomorrow? The most that Arca was able to achieve was putting two cars into a turn. We saw 4 wide on the straight stretch, but no one was successful with doing more than two wide on the turns. The track was slick, mostly from the desert of speedy dry applied to the track from all the wrecks and blown engines during cup qualifying. Most of the time, it looked like there was a dust storm on the back stretch.

In the end, Pole Sitter, Brennan Poole, beat out Chad Hackenbracht for the win. The first win on the newly paved track.

Arca race a prelude for the cup race

Arca race

The Arca race green flag is about to drop and we have already had a wreck on the back stretch. The 32 car Aleks Gregory in The Mosquito Patch Toyota was scrubbing his tires when he shot clear across the track and impacted the outside wall hard ending his day before it even started. We are not sure why he wrecked but the new pavement can not be blamed on this one. Though the new pavement is fast becoming covered all 2.5 miles by speedy dry looking like a bathroom oasis for cats everywhere.

We will see if the new pavement allows for more racing or less passing, but we hope we get past the green flag before we see another caution.

Qualifying day in Pocono

It is qualifying day again in Pocono and it is a typical summer day here in the Ski areas of Pennsylvania.

Qualifying was a bit slow getting started due the third car out blowing up an dumping oil on the newly paved track requiring the Safety Kleen crew to dispense the oil dry and then the jet dryers got to blow it all away before we could get going again.

With the new paved surface, it seemed like every other driver was getting a "New Track Record"

After qualifying finally got going, it took just over 1 hour to complete at about 1:15 with Joey Logano in the 20 car taking the poll with a time of 50.112 seconds, 179.598 mph (a new track record). Carl Edwards was second to Joey and will start on the outside pole on Sunday.

The weather at Pocono was typical Long Pond summer weather. Humid with smattering of clouds. one minute it is bright blue sky and the next it is looking like the wrath of god is coming. Sunday looks to be a fast race (shortened by 100 miles) and fast speeds. Should be a better Pocono this year. Doc would have been proud.

1st week of summer means POCONO

It if the first unofficial week of summer and that means that NASCAR visits Long Pond, PA and the Pocono Race Track. There are a few changes at the track this year. One of the first signs you see of the change is when you come through the tunnel to the infield and a reference to Doc Mattioli, who, along with his wife, Dr. Rose, founded and built the Pocono race track.

In speaking to several of the family members who run this facility, the idea came from one of Doc's great grandchildren who said that the infield was one of Doc's favorite places at the track. Thus a sign was erected and it is clear that it has a feel and energy of Doc's place.

The other major change to Pocono was that the track and pit road were repaved since last year. The cost to repave this 2.5 mile, three turn unique track is unknown and when I asked the new president of the track what it cost to rip up the old pavement and repave, he would only say "it cost a lot, Really, really lot". Since a little bit of Google searching tells us that to repave 1 mile of highway is between $800,000 to $3,000,000, it is a pretty good bet that with the drainage work to try to cure some of the weepers and the tunnel turn, the cost was someplace north of $3,000,000 for this important change.

So far there are no lights at Pocono, but under Doc, this track was the first to go install one of the largest solar fields in the Pa/ NJ/ NY area, upgraded the track, parts of the grandstand and always looking for ways to get the fans involved in more, can night racing be far behind?

Dover in June

It is my first race of the year and we have made it back to Dover Delaware for the June race. For anyone who has not been to Dover before, it is one of the best tracks to watch a race from and after the race instead of fighting traffic, you can go to the Casino for dinner and some table fun which is much more fun than watching tail lights on Rt 1 north.

We watched the Camping World Trucks qualify and the Cup and Nationwide cars practice today under off and on cloudy and sunny skies.

Right now, the Truck series is trying to get past lap 100 before the rain that is just to our west hits. I just looked at the radar and even if i started right now, I am sure that i would just get far enough away from the media center to get soaked.

The truck race is going on right now. Kevin Harvick took the pool and it is Harvick, Lofton, Buscher , Joey Coulter, Ty Dillion, Johnny Sauter, are also trading spaces in the front at lap 75.

Now that the trucks have passed half way at lap 110, the weather is all around the track and the trucks are starting to beat and bang a bit more.

Harvick, Lofton, buescher Hornaday are still the leaders and caution just came out for Wes Burton on lap 110.