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Pocono ARCA Race is
Dream Come True for Nick Igdalsky
By Dino Oberto ….. “Keeping Track”
The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards is set to make its 50th appearance at Pocono Raceway’s 2.5-mile tri-oval on Saturday for the Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 200 and as the Senior Vice President of the track, Nick Igdalsky has had the pleasure of watching the previous 49 by virtual of his family affiliation.
Now the 32-year grandson of track patriarchs’ Dr.’s Joe and Rose Mattioli is set to take on the ARCA race in a whole different perspective, that of driver. 
Igdalsky, an accomplished racer as well as track operator which includes both Pocono and Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, is running the full ARCA slate this year for Team ModSpace with car owner Andy Belmont.
Igdalsky has raced on tracks all across the country but never has he had the chance to compete on the Tricky Triangle. It’s not that he hasn’t thought about it for as long as he can remember.
“This is something that ever since I was a boy I dreamed about. Racing at Pocono, racing the big cars. This is a week where I’m going to try and take a step back and really take it all in and enjoy it and not just go through it like a whirlwind and then look back and say what happened,” said Igdalsky.
“My dream is turning into a reality this weekend and I’m happy to have ModSpace behind me and their continued support.”
Juggling between track operator and race car driver will make Igdalsky one of the busiest individuals at the speedway this weekend but he’s geared for it all.
“It’s a whirlwind between work and all the racing duties we have to do. It’s going to be pretty busy but we have it all balanced with the schedule and things should be good,” he explained.
“The race track hat stays on until Thursday morning then we’ll sort of be doing double duty. I’ll bounce back and forth between Pocono duties and ModSpace duties. We have some sponsor obligations to take care of and some photo shoots with the new car.
“Friday and Saturday it will be full focus on the team. There will be a few meetings in there were I’ll have to rush from the ARCA garage to wherever and then rush back to take care of stuff on track,” he continued.
“My brother, Brandon (Igdalsky), the president of the track and my family has all been real good in supporting this and covering for me if I can’t make it somewhere and I really appreciate the opportunity of being able to do something like this.”
Going to work every day at Pocono one would think he has an edge when it comes to racing the track. But as Igdalsky explains that is contrary as he has had not so much as a test there.
“That is going to be a popular misconception this weekend. People assume because I work here and live here that you have countless laps around the 2.5-mile oval. Frankly, I have about ten laps around the track in a stock car and that was with the Stock Car Racing Experience school and that was about ten years ago,” he noted.
“It’s completely different than anything I’ve ever done. I’ve driven a couple hundred laps around it in a street car but it’s a big difference between that and an 850 horsepower race car. By no means am I going in here thinking that I know anything about this place. I’m coming in like it’s a brand new track to me.
“I’ve never done any testing in advance. It’s going to be just like any other track where I’m just going to have to get out there and practice and figure it out.”
If there is an advantage it will be with his ModSpace teammate Chad McCumbee, the 2007 winner of this event.
“Chad has won a race here before and he’s got a lot of experience so I can rely on him. Every time I ask him a question he’s right there with the details and he’s been a big help so far and I’ll lean on him a little more here at Pocono,” said Igdalsky.
Igdalsky enters Saturday’s race 13th in points and within reach of the top ten. For a first year driver with ARCA, his season has been one of steadiness and consistency.
“We’ve finished every race so far this year and sitting 13th in points not too far out of the top ten. We’re right there week in and week out and I know we can run top ten more consistently with a little more seat time. We’re going to keep plugging away and stick with our goal of finishing in the top ten in points.”
Pocono will also be serving as a homecoming for ModSpace and Belmont.
“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the help from a company like ModSpace. What a fantastic company they’ve been coming into the sport and they’re making a good impact within the sport,” said Igdalsky.
“Everyone involved with the team, from Andy Belmont to ModSpace to me, this is our home race. Andy being from the area. ModSpace being from out of Philadelphia and myself being right from here, this is the home race for all three aspects of the team and we’re all pretty pumped up.”
As a driver getting the opportunity to race at his favorite track in a stock car, Igdalsky is thrilled that it will be with ARCA.
“I love it. ARCA has been great to me. This is a series that is near and dear to my heart being that I’ve watched them here since I was a young boy. This is going to mark their 50th appearance on the big track and that’s really special. I’ve been following them here for a long time and I’d rather be doing this here at Pocono with this series first than any other series.”
Following Saturday’s ARCA race Igdalsky will get back into the swing of track operator mode. He’ll return to the race car on Friday of next week for an event at Michigan Speedway.
“My confidence is up and I know I can keep pace with these guys. A little more time in the car is what we’re looking for at this time. The car should be a top 10 this week.”
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