I've Always Liked Pocono
General
Sometimes I feel like an ad for the Marine Corps when the subject turns to Pocono Raceway - one of the few and the proud. Over the years I have heard many suggest that NASCAR drop this venue and I couldn't disagree more. I have always liked Pocono since my first visit in 1981. I've probably made about 25 or so trips there and there was no place on the entire Cup circuit I enjoyed more. The countryside is beautiful and the food in the area is the absolute best I ever ate on the Cup circuit. The various degrees of radius in the 3 turns make it so interesting. One driver is leading going into the tunnel turn and another as they hit turn 1, etc., etc. I wouldn't trade one Pocono for ten boring Kansas, Chicago or Fontana type venues. For one thing, the Mattioli family always went over, above, and beyond to make us all feel welcome. They are just really nice people. It's the first place I remember that had really nice, clean restrooms in the garage. And let me say upfront - I do share the safety concerns regading abuttments and safety barriers.
It was so nice at night to feel the cool mountain breezes... and it's not every day you find deer wandering on a racetrack! I've stayed near the track in White Haven and at Jack Frost Mountain (no air conditioning needed) and even in Wilkes-Barre. There were great restaurants everywhere. Until it closed, Dale Earnhardt's favorite eating place on the NASCAR circuit was on Highway 115 outside of Blakeslee - a place called Iorios that also had an onsite bakery. Robert Christian's down the road from Blakeslee is also superb (best turkey sandwiches on the circuit - they roastturkeys every day). The food at the track was also varied and good. I enjoyed visiting the old timey neighborhood corner bars in Wilkes-Barre at night and had the best seafood I ever ate in Scranton (note - Daytona is NOT known for good seafood). There were even great pancake places around.
The entire staff at Pocono was always helpful and nice. Not just thethe Mattioli family, but Bob Pallo, Bob Pleban and Patti Angeloni couldn't be beat. Just nice people. Family people - not like dealing with the Frances or Bruton Smiths of the world.
In my humble opinion, the people who didn't enjoy Pocono were the money grubbers, briefcaseand alligator shoe set. They probably didn't like pierogis, either. I'd sure like to get back some time.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
