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NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway

Starting in 1982 and continuing through  2019, NASCAR would stage two race weekends per summer at Pocono Raceway with one in early June and the other in late July or early August. Then in 2020-21, the pandemic led to holding Cup series races on back-to-back days, and with restrictions in place, the crowds were drastically […]

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Starting in 1982 and continuing through  2019, NASCAR would stage two race weekends per summer at Pocono Raceway with one in early June and the other in late July or early August.

Then in 2020-21, the pandemic led to holding Cup series races on back-to-back days, and with restrictions in place, the crowds were drastically reduced.

However, when NASCAR decided to visit Pocono just once per season, starting in 2022, it settled on a July date. The Cup race was held on July 24 in 2022, July 23 in 2023, and July 14 last year, and the crowds for all three were some of the best seen in Long Pond, Monroe County, in years.

When NASCAR decided to go back to a June date this year, there might have been some cause for concern that it could negatively affect attendance.

As it turned out, those worries weren’t necessary.

NASCAR makes its annual stop at the so-called Tricky Triangle this weekend, and the place figures to be packed.

Pocono Raceway announced earlier this month that all 3,300 available camping sites were sold for the weekend’s three races. The same release said that grandstand tickets were available for Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race and Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

But limited seats remained for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race as the track is hoping for, and likely to get, a third consecutive sellout.

“I liked the July date, but NASCAR sets the schedule and we work together on that, and I think we’ve found a pretty good window here for race weekend,” Pocono Raceway president Ben May said. “The nice part is that the kids are out of school by now. As far as the kids go, and our push for families to come with free admission for kids 12 and under, I think we’re fine. Any earlier in June would have been a little tough. But this is a pretty good time of year for us.”

NASCAR has increasingly added new venues to its schedule, and there has been a reduction in races in the Northeast.

“At one point we had seven Cup races in the Northeast … two at Pocono, two at Dover, two at New Hampshire, and one at Watkins Glen, and now we have just one race at each spot,” May said. “We’re all doing great. Dover had close to a sellout last year, and New Hampshire did, and Watkins Glen always has a great crowd. So we feel good about everything that’s happening here in the Northeast.”

Since track founders, the late Dr. Joseph and Dr. Rose Mattioli, turned over leadership of the track to their grandsons, Brandon and Nick Igdalsky, in 2011, and May was promoted to president in 2017, there has been a steady stream of upgrades and improvements to the track and the raceday experience.

This year, it is the modernization of the scoreboard in Turn 2 that is the most visible to the campers inside the track.

“It was a bit dated,” May said. “It had just the six positions and was the old bulb system. Now, it’s an LED board, and I think that’s probably the glaring thing folks will notice when they get there.”

Depending on when they get there, racing fans will be treated to up to three races with the truck series race, the Xfinity race and the Cup race spread out over three days.

“I think the tripleheader is a big deal,” he said. “I think there are only 10 tracks that have all three series on a weekend. We have a 5:30 truck series race on Friday night, so if you can get out of work and get to the track, you can enjoy a top-notch race. You can have fun watching the truck series.

“At one point, we had both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series race on Saturday. Not that there’s any such thing as too much racing, but we missed some action in the Fan Zone where the kids can have some fun and partake in the fan experience. Spreading them out to having one race Friday and another on Saturday is better for all involved.

“We’ve also got the Cup series practices and qualifying on Saturday, so you can see NASCAR’s superstars as well as the Triple-A ballplayers, if you well. And then we have a ton of those kids’ activities as well on Saturday, so it’s still a very busy day, and kudos to NASCAR for having three competitive series …”

The Cup series has been quite competitive with 10 different drivers finding Victory Lane through the first 16 races.

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Wabash Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.com at Pocono Raceway on July 14, 2024 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

James Gilbert/Getty Images

Ryan Blaney celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.com at Pocono Raceway on July 14, 2024 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

New names have emerged to replace the icons of past decades. Ryan Blaney, last year’s race winner and the 2023 Cup series champ, is one of the younger drivers who are consistently contending for race wins and championships.

“I’ve been around this sport long enough to recognize when you see a shift,” May said. “When I first got into this sport, it was Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. And then you see Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson retiring, and it’s cyclical like any other sport. Eventually, the superstar athletes retire.

“Now we have Christopher Bell winning a bunch of races. He’s a heck of a driver, and when it comes to Pocono, it seems like the veterans are the ones who win. Ryan Blaney won last year, and he is now a veteran, and Chase Elliott has been in this sport for 10 years, and he hasn’t had a win yet this year.

“But it’s the Christopher Bells and William Byrons, the kids that are going to be the next superstars,” May added. “They have proven that they can drive a race car.”

May also likes some of the things happening off the track. He credits the Netflix series that reminds football fans of NFL Films for boosting interest. He is also excited about the addition of Amazon Prime.

There’s also an in-season tournament being introduced for the first time this year, with Pocono being the last race for seeding for the tournament.

At the core of the sport’s popularity is still the accessibility of fans to the athletes, and Pocono creates a lot of up-close and personal moments.

“It’s absolutely one of the biggest advantages we have as a sport,” May said. “The drivers will come out on raceday and they’ll do Q-and-As and they will sign autographs and they will talk to the fans.

“And then 20 minutes later, you see them do 200 miles an hour with their hair on fire. So that ability to get near them is so big. A lot of sports do a great job, but NASCAR is at the lead of that. Not a lot of folks can say they have had a Q-and-A with Saquon Barkley 30 minutes before kickoff. It just didn’t happen. That’s the beauty of our sport.”

And perhaps there is no more loyal sports fan than a NASCAR fan.

“I go back to the Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson days when Jimmie Johnson was in a Lowe’s car and Tony Stewart was in the Home Depot car,” May said. “Tony’s fans weren’t going to Lowe’s, and there was no way a Jimmie Johnson fan was going to Home Depot. The fans understand what it takes to keep their favorite driver on the track and going fast. They have a true understanding of what makes the ecosystem of NASCAR work.”

Another aspect of the weekend is the promotion of the Poconos. The Xfinity race is called the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, and the Cup race is called the Great American Getaway presented by VisitPA.com.

“The visitors bureau of the Poconos sponsors the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, and that’s a massive boost to the area at a time when we’re just kicking off summer here and our No. 1 business is tourism,” May said. “The support we get from that group has been terrific, and the state tourism office has been wonderful in making sure people come to Pennsylvania. You know Doc Mattioli was a Pennsylvania guy, and so was Dr. Rose. They’re from Pennsylvania and cared about the state.

“That’s why one race was called the Pennsylvania 500 and the other was called the Pocono 500 for years,” May added. “The whole family is proud to be from Pennsylvania, and we’re a family-owned and operated business. So we love highlighting the Poconos and Pennsylvania with our race weekend.”



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Zilisch undergoes collarbone surgery | RACER

Connor Zilisch has undergone surgery to repair the broken collarbone he suffered on Saturday at Watkins Glen. Zilisch posted to social media that he “wanted to give everyone a quick update. Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days […]

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Connor Zilisch has undergone surgery to repair the broken collarbone he suffered on Saturday at Watkins Glen.

Zilisch posted to social media that he “wanted to give everyone a quick update. Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped. Thank you.”

Zilisch, 19, fell from his JR Motorsports Chevrolet when he slipped off the door while celebrating in victory lane.  Fortunately, it was the only injury Zilisch suffered, as his left leg and ankle were caught in what appeared to be the window net as he fell.

The incident resulted in Zilisch being taken from victory lane on a backboard and later transferred to a local hospital. He was released the same night.

The injury sidelined Zilisch from competing in the Cup Series race on Sunday at Watkins Glen. It was his last scheduled race in the series for the season.

JR Motorsports has not announced whether Zilisch will be sidelined from any upcoming Xfinity Series events. The series is off this weekend, but will return to action on August 22 at Daytona International Speedway with three races left in the regular season. 

Zilisch not only leads the series with six victories, but also leads the championship standings. He is seven points ahead of JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier and 24 points ahead of Haas Factory Team driver Sam Mayer.



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Connor Zilisch Has Surgery On Broken Collarbone, Return TBD

Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider Trackhouse Racing driver Connor Zilisch had surgery Tuesday to repair a broken collarbone suffered in a fall Saturday while celebrating his victory at Watkins Glen. Zilisch, in a social media post, said he underwent the surgery so a plate and screws could be put in and help the healing process. […]

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Trackhouse Racing driver Connor Zilisch had surgery Tuesday to repair a broken collarbone suffered in a fall Saturday while celebrating his victory at Watkins Glen.

Zilisch, in a social media post, said he underwent the surgery so a plate and screws could be put in and help the healing process.

The Xfinity Series points leader did not say when he might return to racing. The series is off this weekend and then has three regular-season races remaining at Daytona, Portland (road course) and World Wide Technology Raceway (commonly known as Gateway).

Zilisch indicated on the “Door Bumper Clear” podcast that he was briefly knocked out after the fall, where he had one foot on the roof and one on the driver’s side window sill, where he had not tucked the window net inside the car but was instead laying underneath his foot. 

“I was climbing out of the car and obviously the window net was on the door and as soon as they started spraying water, my foot slipped and the last thing I remember is being halfway done and falling,” Zilisch said during the USA telecast of the Cup race Sunday.

“I’m glad it wasn’t any worse.”

All CT scans Saturday proved negative for any head injuries.

Zilisch, who races for JR Motorsports in the series and leads teammate Justin Allgaier by seven points in the standings, fell off his car when he lost his footing while trying to stand on his car following his sixth victory of the season. If he doesn’t start a race, he would need a waiver to miss a race(s) and still be eligible for the playoffs.

He also could possibly start a race and then have a stand-by driver replace him during the event — Zilisch would then get the points for wherever the replacement driver finishes.

Zilisch, the No. 1 Cup prospect in a FOX Sports midseason prospect ranking released last week, is expected to race full time in the NASCAR Cup Series next year. Trackhouse has already announced that Daniel Suarez will not return and a Zilisch announcement is expected soon.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.



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Motorsports

Connor Zilisch undergoes surgery on collarbone after Victory Lane fall

19-year-old Connor Zilisch fell from his race-winning car at Watkins Glen in a frightening moment that left the entire NASCAR community stunned. Thankfully, he escaped with only broken collarbone, which prevented him from competing in the NASCAR Cup race on Sunday. However, the focus is now on getting Zilisch fully healed in time to compete […]

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19-year-old Connor Zilisch fell from his race-winning car at Watkins Glen in a frightening moment that left the entire NASCAR community stunned. Thankfully, he escaped with only broken collarbone, which prevented him from competing in the NASCAR Cup race on Sunday.

However, the focus is now on getting Zilisch fully healed in time to compete for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. The rookie sensation has six wins this year, and currently leads the regular season point standings. The next race takes place at Daytona International Speedway on August 22nd, and there but still three races until the NXS playoffs get underway.

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On Tuesday, Zilisch provided the following update regarding his recovery: “Wanted to give everyone a quick update. Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped. Thank you.”

Connor Zilisch taken away via stretcher, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Connor Zilisch taken away via stretcher, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Connor Zilisch taken away via stretcher, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

The teenager has also been using humor after his Victory Lane tumble went viral, responding to video of the fall with the following message: “Now that I know I’ll be alright, it’s gonna be tough to make a comeback from this generational aura debt. Dang, at least I won.”

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Zilisch also appeared on the Door Bumper Clear podcast this week, his right arm in a sling. “The last thing I remember, I was split on the door so I had one leg in and one leg out of the car,” he said on the podcast. “The last I remember, and I don’t know why, but I thought I was going to break my femur. My leg was stuck. I thought I was done.”

Read Also:

Winner Connor Zilisch leaves on a stretcher in scary Victory Lane fall

Connor Zilisch suffers broken collarbone in shocking fall while celebrating win

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.



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Glendale’s McDowell vying for NASCAR points this weekend

With two-thirds of the NASCAR Cup Series races in his rearview mirror, Glendale native Michael McDowell is looking to make his way up the standings under the lights this Saturday in Richmond. Over the first 24 races of the season, McDowell has tallied two top-five, three top-10 and 12 top-20 finishes. The 2021 Daytona 500 […]

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With two-thirds of the NASCAR Cup Series races in his rearview mirror, Glendale native Michael McDowell is looking to make his way up the standings under the lights this Saturday in Richmond.

Over the first 24 races of the season, McDowell has tallied two top-five, three top-10 and 12 top-20 finishes. The 2021 Daytona 500 winner is currently 22nd in points, 44 markers below the playoff cutline.

He will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Go Workforce Chevrolet ZL1 in Saturday’s 400-lap race at Richmond Raceway. The Cook Out 400 engines roar at 4:30 p.m. Arizona time.





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Kyle Petty Defends Next Gen | Spire Makes Another Driver Change | Hocevar Clashes With McDowell

Kyle Petty’s Next Gen comments have lit a fire in the NASCAR world, Carson Hocevar’s clash with Michael McDowell stirred up garage drama, and Spire Motorsports once again found itself in the middle of a mid-season shake-up. Add in a big Truck Series seat swap, Petty’s social media follow-up, and a fresh set of Cup […]

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Kyle Petty’s Next Gen comments have lit a fire in the NASCAR world, Carson Hocevar’s clash with Michael McDowell stirred up garage drama, and Spire Motorsports once again found itself in the middle of a mid-season shake-up. Add in a big Truck Series seat swap, Petty’s social media follow-up, and a fresh set of Cup Series power rankings, and this week’s NASCAR storylines are loaded.

  • Was Carson Hocevar justified in his post-race frustration after getting hit twice by his veteran teammate?
  • What’s behind Spire Motorsports cutting a truck and letting Andres Perez de Lara go despite recent signs of improvement?
  • Did Kyle Petty miss the point in defending the Next Gen car, or is he right that fans need patience?
  • Which drivers rose or fell in the latest Cup Series power rankings after Watkins Glen?

The mix of heated radio chatter, sudden driver moves, and a high-profile debate over NASCAR’s premier car makes for one of the busier news cycles we’ve had lately. Some of these changes could ripple into the playoffs, others could shape how teams approach 2025, and the Petty vs. critics discussion is bound to keep fans divided. One thing’s certain: the conversation won’t cool off before Richmond under the lights this weekend.

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NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, Truck playoff standings as regular season nears an end

The race for the last playoff spots comes down to the final races of the regular season in the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. Shane van Gisbergen’s victory in last weekend’s Cup race at Watkins Glen didn’t alter the playoff standings for those trying secure one of the last spots. Thirteen drivers are […]

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The race for the last playoff spots comes down to the final races of the regular season in the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series.

Shane van Gisbergen’s victory in last weekend’s Cup race at Watkins Glen didn’t alter the playoff standings for those trying secure one of the last spots. Thirteen drivers are in via wins, leaving three positions open with two races left in the regular season.

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Tyler Reddick is 117 points above the cutline, Alex Bowman is 60 points above the cutline, and Chris Buescher holds the final playoff spot by 34 points.

Ryan Preece, Buescher’s RFK Racing teammate, is the first driver outside a playoff spot. Preece is 34 points behind Buescher heading into Saturday night’s race at Richmond — coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Here is a look at the Cup playoff standings (drivers in yellow have won and clinched a spot in the playoffs):

Playoff standings after WGI Cup.jpg

Playoff standings after WGI Cup.jpg

Xfinity Series

The Xfinity Series, which is off this weekend, has three races left in the regular season. Eight drivers have secured playoff spots with wins, leaving four spots open.

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Carson Kvapil is 112 points above the cutline, Sheldon Creed is 77 points above the cutline, Taylor Gray is 76 points above the cutline and Harrison Burton holds the final playoff spot.

Jeb Burton is the first driver outside a playoff spot. He’s 30 points below the cutline. Ryan Sieg is 38 points below the cutline.

The series is back in action Aug. 22 at Daytona.

Craftsman Truck Series

Playoff standings after WGI Xfinity.jpg

Playoff standings after WGI Xfinity.jpg

Friday night’s race at Richmond is the final race of the regular season for the Truck Series.

Two spots remain via points. Kaden Honeycutt is 65 points above the cutline. Jake Garcia holds the final playoff spot by 11 points on Ben Rhodes and 21 points on Giovanni Ruggiero.

Playoff Standings after WGI Trucks.jpg

Playoff Standings after WGI Trucks.jpg



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