UPDATE Pocono Raceway's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974, a second Sprint Cup Series race was added to the Pocono schedule in 1982. Sunday's Good Sam RV Insurance 500 was the 68thSprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway. Each race was scheduled for 500 miles and each produced its share of drama and excitement. Starting with the June 10, 2012 Pocono Sprint Cup Series race, the scheduled distance for both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will be shortened to 400 miles. "The 400 mile distance will make NASCAR racing at Pocono even more exciting," stated Raceway President and CEO , Brandon Igdalsky. "Race strategies will change, fuel mileage calculations will be altered and I firmly believe that our fans will be treated to outstanding racing at the 400 mile distance." "NASCAR supports Pocono Raceway's move to two 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 2012," stated Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR Senior Vice President, Racing Operations . "We believe this will be a good transition for the fans and competitors. It will provide the teams with a new type of strategy and should make for even more exciting competition at a unique facility that has a long-standing history in our sport." Eight weeks after the Pocono 400. It will be the August 5, Pennsylvania 400. Both 400 mile races will have the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards as companion races. The August Pennsylvania 400 weekend will also feature a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on August 4.
Pocono Raceway
08/10/11 Raceway President Brandon Igdalski told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that cutting the track's two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 500 miles to 400 next season is "being considered". "We're looking at things, but we haven't made that decision quite yet," said Igdalski. "We're looking at it for the future, whether it's this year, next year, or a couple of years down the road. It's a different sport and a different time than it was years ago, and we're always looking at things." Igdalski took the helm of the historic tri-oval when his grandfather, track founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli, announced his retirement Friday. Igdalski said he was unaware of his grandfather's plans, adding, "We got a call about 30 minutes beforehand saying, `Be in the Media Center in half an hour.' I had no idea he was going to retire. My jaw hit the ground."