This Pennsylvania track has three turns copied from three different racetracks

Bill France Sr.’s Rescue of Pocono’s "Tricky Triangle"

Pocono Raceway nearly died before it truly lived. Philadelphia dentist Joseph Mattioli built the 2.5-mile tri-oval on spinach fields in 1971, but by 1979, it was on life support.

A perfect storm hit – $3.5 million in debt, hurricane damage, the energy crisis, and racing politics cut crowds in half.

When Mattioli thought about selling, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. flew to New York with a message.

He wrote on his business card: “On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of millions who when within the grasp of victory sat and waited.

And waiting died.

France’s faith paid off when NASCAR gave Pocono a second race in 1982, saving the “Tricky Triangle” that still roars today.

A Philadelphia Dentist Gambled His Fortune on a Racetrack

Joe Mattioli, a Philly dentist and WWII vet, sank his money into a racetrack in the Poconos during the mid-1960s with his wife Rose.

David Montgomery started it all in 1962 when he bought 1,025 acres of spinach farmland in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania.

After Montgomery hit roadblocks and fought with Mattioli about the track’s future, Mattioli took over as the main investor by mid-1969.

He asked NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Indy Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman for tips on building the superspeedway.

The couple knew nothing about racing but went all in on making a major motorsports venue in the Northeast.

Workers Carved Three Famous Turns into Pennsylvania Farmland

Construction began with a groundbreaking on July 8, 1965, with a $6 million price tag.

A three-quarter mile oval and drag strip opened in October 1968, followed by a 1.8-mile road course in 1969.

Racing stars Mario Andretti and Roger Ward helped create the unique 2.5-mile tri-oval track layout.

Each turn copied a different famous track: Turn 1 looked like Trenton Speedway with 14-degree banking, Turn 2 matched Indianapolis with 8-degree banking, and Turn 3 borrowed from Milwaukee Mile with 6-degree banking.

Bad weather and money troubles pushed the main tri-oval completion to early 1971.

Mark Donohue Won Pocono’s USAC Champ Car Race

The Tricky Triangle held its first race on July 3, 1971, a 500-mile USAC Champ Car race. Mark Donohue won the first 200-lap race, giving team owner Roger Penske his first-ever win.

Racing greats like Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Donnie Allison, and Cale Yarborough showed up to race.

Fans trying to get to the track from Philly and New York got stuck in a huge traffic jam on the single-lane PA-115 between I-80 and the track.

The opening put Pocono on the map as a new superspeedway serving 40 million people within 200 miles.

Mother Nature Nearly Washed Away the Second Season

Hurricane Agnes dumped over seven inches of rain in late June 1972, forcing the second yearly USAC race to move from July 2 to July 29.

Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp sent Mattioli a letter asking him to delay the race because nearby areas like Wilkes-Barre flooded badly.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources almost filed a court order because the lack of sewage facilities would create health risks.

The Poconos’ high ground saved the track from the severe flooding that killed 50 Pennsylvanians and caused $2. 3 billion in state damage, but the delay hurt profits.

The makeup race became part of a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader with 1,000 miles of racing.

The King Conquered the Triangle in NASCAR’s First Visit

NASCAR held its first Pocono race on August 4, 1974, called the Purolator 500.

Richard Petty won the first NASCAR event, seeing that the track opened new territory for Southern stock car racing.

The spot gave NASCAR access to New York, New Jersey, and northern Pennsylvania markets the sport had never reached before.

Bill France Sr.saw Pocono as key for NASCAR’s push into the Northeast with its millions of possible fans.

The 1974 energy crisis forced NASCAR to cut races short early in the season, but by July races went back to full distance.

Money Problems Piled Up Like Wrecked Race Cars

By 1979, Pocono faced huge money troubles from many sources.

Construction debt topped $3.5 million from years of delays, cost overruns, and the Mattiolis’ lack of experience.

The 1970s energy crisis cut attendance as fans dealt with gas shortages, rationing, and a national 55 mph speed limit.

Hurricane Agnes damage and fixes had drained money from the track’s early years.

The CART-USAC split in 1978 created the worst crisis when CART teams formed their own racing league and left Pocono hanging.

Race Teams Boycotted and Fans Stayed Home

The 1979 USAC-backed Pocono 500 lost Schaefer Beer’s title sponsorship after eight years. CART-linked drivers and teams skipped the race, making Mattioli angry since he stayed loyal to USAC.

Crowd size dropped from the normal 125,000 to just 62,500, cutting attendance in half. The race lost $2 million, pushing Pocono toward bankruptcy.

Planned drag races in May 1979 got canceled, creating a fight with the International Hot Rod Association.

The track seemed doomed as bills stacked up and fans vanished.

Lawyers Got Involved as Mattioli Fought Back

In August 1979, Mattioli sued CART in federal court for $6. 3 million in antitrust damages.

The 1981 Pocono 500 faced another CART boycott, with Mattioli raising his lawsuit to $9 million.

Mattioli publicly blamed CART for trying to kill Pocono to gain leverage over Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In February 1981, Mattioli told reporters he talked with three separate groups wanting to buy the track.

For 1980, Indianapolis Motor Speedway had to lease Pocono for a full season to inject cash and pay off creditors who were circling like vultures.

Bill France, NASCAR Owner Changed Everything

As bankruptcy loomed, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. flew to New York for a meeting with Mattioli.

The Mattiolis had made up their minds to sell the track they had nearly bankrupted multiple times. France refused to accept their decision and wrote an inspirational quote on his business card.

The message said: “On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of millions who when within the grasp of victory, sat and waited. And waiting died.”

Mattioli read it, thought for a minute, then told France: “OK, you S. O.B., I’ll go with you.

NASCAR’s First Family Stood By a Struggling Track

Bill France Sr., his wife Annie B., and son Bill France Jr. showed up at Pocono races for the next two years.

Their presence at races showed they had Mattioli’s back during the track’s darkest days. France Sr. convinced Mattioli that giving up when success was just around the corner would be a huge mistake.

The France family’s support and advice became the lifeline Pocono needed to survive.

Mattioli later said: “Had it not been for Bill France Sr. , Annie B.and Bill Jr. , Pocono Raceway would not be here today.”

Two NASCAR Races Saved Pocono from the Bank

In 1982, NASCAR gave Pocono a second annual Cup Series race, replacing a date at the crumbling Texas World Speedway.

The new June race joined the existing July/August race, starting 39 straight years of NASCAR doubleheaders at the track.

The two NASCAR races plus supporting events brought in enough money to save the track from bankruptcy. By 1983, Mattioli told reporters the track was off the market and the money troubles were over.

The second race allowed Pocono to start a 10-year, $30 million renovation in 1990 that rebuilt the track from the ground up.

Visiting Pocono Raceway, Pennsylvania

Pocono Raceway at 1234 Long Pond Road in Blakeslee offers free 45-minute track tours with advance reservations to learn about the “Tricky Triangle’s” history.

You can also book the Stock Car Racing Experience to ride or drive on the NASCAR track. Kids 12 and under get free admission to grandstand levels 100 and 200 during race weekends.

Bring coolers up to 12x12x12 inches, and camping guests can bring pets during races.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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