Pocono Raceway officials have announced that next year’s two Sprint Cup races will be 400 miles in length rather than the traditional 500 miles distance which has been run since 1974.
The 500-mile races around the 2.5 mile tri-oval lasted close to four hours in length and even the drivers thought that it might be time for a reduction.
Last Sunday’s race at Pocono was red flagged for rain at about 300 miles and resumed after a one hour and 40 minute delay. During that delay NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., said, with a little tongue-in-cheek, that Mother Nature was telling NASCAR how long the race should be.
“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.”
This may be a continuation of a slow moving trend to shorten NASCAR Sprint Cup races as younger potential fans do not have the patience or interest in a four-hour race preferring the instant excitement of things like the X Games.
The 500-mile races around the 2.5 mile tri-oval lasted close to four hours in length and even the drivers thought that it might be time for a reduction.
Last Sunday’s race at Pocono was red flagged for rain at about 300 miles and resumed after a one hour and 40 minute delay. During that delay NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., said, with a little tongue-in-cheek, that Mother Nature was telling NASCAR how long the race should be.
“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.”
This may be a continuation of a slow moving trend to shorten NASCAR Sprint Cup races as younger potential fans do not have the patience or interest in a four-hour race preferring the instant excitement of things like the X Games.