In 2021 we proudly celebrated ’50 Years of The Tricky Triangle.’ We spoke with some legends of both IndyCar and NASCAR. Explore our journey through the years of Pocono Raceway history!
Through The Decade Series
All year long we have worked with local journalist, Zach Sturniolo, to bring you new stories for our ’50 Year’s of The Tricky Triangle’ celebration. To finish off the year Sturniolo now takes us on a 5-Part Through the Decades Series. Each story highlights some of the big moments from each decade here at Pocono Raceway! Enjoy.
1970’s
1980’s
1990’s
2000’s
2010’s & Beyond
Highlights from our Celebration
Click the link below to watch some videos, listen to our podcasts and read the stories from the likes of Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Blaney, Darrell Waltrip, Steve Letarte, Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett.
50 years of The Tricky Triangle Timeline
Enjoy a trip down memory lane by going through the years of the triangle with our interactive timeline below. We are also asking, YOU, the fans to help us fill this timeline by submitting your stories in the “Fans Corner” Section. Check back often, as more stories will continue to be added throughout the year!
1971
1971
Winner’s Circle
July 3, 1971
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Mark Donohue
September 19,1971
USAC Stock Car
Winner: Butch Hartman
Fan’s Corner
Story Submitted By: Brian Cullather
My story, a bit of everything at Pocono Raceway. Arrived in 1971, I was a curious 12 year old who went up with dad, who was a combo usher/media covering for the Schuylkill Haven Call (Got a 2nd place in Pa award for column on first Schaefer 500, big deal for a local weekly in a town of then maybe 6,000). I remember PIR as huge place and was happy just to be walking back and forth under the pedestrian tunnel back then. Got to see my first favorite driver in my life, Mark Donohue win in my first live race ever! Dad was as thrilled when he got moved to NA/SA grandstands after a few years, he met friends ushering that he would love talking to every Schaefer 500 and exchanged Christmas cards with a few families he met. Over the years in no particular order I worked in food stand under grandstands, vended ice cream in the grandstands, camped in infield in box trucks and campers, sat in the old pit road bleachers, sat in top row of grandstands. Worked for a beer distributor so was guest of Miller Brewing in hospitality numerous times, including meeting Bobby Allison hours before his turn 2 calamity. Met and had photo taken with Paul Newman when he was driving sports cars there. Track made me a NASCAR fan leading to me visiting multiple tracks, all because I went to my home track. Took the drive up to Pocono alone, with dad, and with many friends, each trip a great day, even with the occasional rain. Sadly as life evolved only 3 visits there in 21st Century, hoping to return in June, and really wanted IndyCars here for the anniversary! As a sports oriented guy Pocono and The Vet share the 2 greatest pieces of my formative sports memories, never will regret going up to Pocono International Raceway in 1971 and what it led to!
Story Submitted By: Kelly Zimmerman
My love of racing started with my first NASCAR race when I was 7 years old in 1971. My dad took me to Pocono Raceway, I loved it, the smells of fuel and oil, the very fast cars and always very friendly people. One time my father walked right up to a driver and said great race(I don’t remember which driver) 1974. Anyway my dad had a Autobody Shop in Saylorsburg, pa, and had many old fast cars. We also went to Nazareth Speedway when it was dirt, I loved it! Throughout the years my husband and I have attended at least 15 races at Pocono and it’s always a thrill, especially the time Mark Martin gave my husband some lug nuts from his racecar and we got several autographs from Kyle Petty, Chad Little and Ernie Irvan! 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. We always went on the Infield and my husband built a scaffolding tower for us to watch the race from his truck. One time we were entering the field in my Ford Taurus station wagon and the person waved my husband to drive on the track, probably by mistake, but my husband sped up to about 100mph, on the track, it was exhilarating, I will never forget it!!! And years ago when I close family friend died very young of cancer, we had a fundraiser for him and I called and asked if Pocono Raceway could donate tickets to be raffled off, we raised thousands of dollars for his family because of the generosity 2012! So God Bless Pocono Raceway and everyone throughout the years that made it so memorable! My husband and I have taken our 3 daughters to Pocono Races several times and they loved it too and continue to attend.
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Podcast: Mario Andretti talks about the early days at the track and the time that he almost missed practice for the first race in 1971. Click Hereto listen to the full episode.
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1972
1972
Winner’s Circle
July 29, 1972
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Joe Leonard
July 30, 1972
USAC Stock Car
Winner: Roger McCluskey
Fan’s Corner
Story Submitted by Tommy Hiester
My memory is the USAC stock car race at Pocono in the beginning. This could have been the first stock car race at Pocono. Richard Petty was there and me and some friends walked over to the short straight and the bleachers there were not done yet and we stood on overturned trash cans along the fence and took pictures during the race from atop of the trash cans. A great view and some great memories from the beginning of Pocono Raceway.
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1973
1973
Winner’s Circle
July 1, 1973
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: A.J. Foyt
July 29, 1973
USAC Stock Car
Winner: Richard Petty
Fan’s Corner
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Check out our podcast with Richard Petty. On this episode Petty looks back on his historic win in our 1973 USAC Stock Car Race and more! CLICK HEREto listen.
- Blog Post: Richard Petty: We’re All Part of The Pocono Raceway Family. CLICK HEREto read.
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1974
1974
Winner’s Circle
April 27, 1974
USAC Stock Car
Winner: Ron Keselowski
June 30, 1974
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Johnny Rutherford
August 4, 1974
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: Richard Petty
Fan’s Corner
Story Submitted By: Dave Wible
I was looking at some old pictures and found some from a Pocono race in 1974. Doing an Internet research, I found out the pictures were from the USAC Stock Car Race at Pocono, the ACME Super Saver 500. Brad Keselowski’s Uncle, Ron Keselowski won the race.
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Check out our podcast with Richard Petty. On this episode Petty looks back on his historic win in our Inaugural 1974 NASCAR Cup Series Race and more! CLICK HERE to listen.
- Blog Post: Richard Petty: We’re All Part of The Pocono Raceway Family. CLICK HERE to read.
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1975
1975
Winner’s Circle
June 29, 1975
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: A.J. Foyt
August 3, 1975
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: David Pearson
Fan’s Corner
Story Submitted by: Joe Yarrish
In the mid 70s Pocono Raceway sponsored a contest with businesses in downtown Wilkes-Barre. You would pick up entry blanks at various businesses fill them out return them to the entry boxes, then on public square they had festivities and winners chosen at random. My girlfriend, her brother and myself went to all those business places picked up entry blanks. The day came for drawing at the square, listened to all winning names being announced, then finally we were winners. Four infield tickets. Race day came, pitched the canopy in the infield, had a great time. Still having a great time at my daughters trackside spot for NASCAR events.
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1976
1976
Winner’s Circle
June 27, 1976
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Al Unser
August 1, 1976
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: Richard Petty
Fan’s Corner
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1977
1977
Winner’s Circle
June 26, 1977
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Tom Sneva
July 31, 1977
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: Benny Parsons
Fan’s Corner
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1978
1978
Winner’s Circle
June 25, 1978
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: Al Unser
July 30, 1978
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: Darrell Waltrip
Fan’s Corner
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
1979
1979
Winner’s Circle
June 24, 1979
NTT IndyCar Series
Winner: A.J. Foyt
July 30, 1979
NASCAR Cup Series
Winner: Cale Yarborough
Fan’s Corner
Help us fill our timeline! If you have stories or pictures from this year, please share them with us using the form below for your chance to have your memories featured on our timeline.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES OR PICTURES
Related Media
- Story: Highlighting the 1970’s Click Here
SHARE YOUR POCONO FAN STORIES
50 Years of The Tricky Triangle Fan Stories
50th Anniversary Merchandise
END OF YEAR SALE: Celebrate ’50 Years of The Tricky Triangle’ with this exclusive 50th Anniversary poster featuring some of our most notable program covers throughout the year from our INDYCAR and NASCAR events! Now only $9.99! Get yours while supplies last!
