LONG POND — It has gone by many names. Busch Series. Nationwide Series.
Currently, it is the Xfinity Series.
Regardless of what it was called, people over the years said that Pocono Raceway should host one of the series’ races. That will finally happen in 2016.
NASCAR’s second-tier series is coming to the 2.5-mile triangular track in Long Pond. A 250-mile race will be part of the June 3-5 weekend that includes the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Pocono 200 ARCA Series race.
A second tripleheader weekend will be held at Pocono on July 29-31. That will include the Pennsylvania 400 Sprint Cup race, the Pocono Mountains 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and the Modspace 125 ARCA race.
Although the Xfinity Series dates back to 1950, when it was known as the NASCAR Sportsman Division, it has never competed at Pocono. It did, however, race at Nazareth Speedway from 1988 to 2004.
“It’s been something that a bunch of drivers have asked for, fans have asked for,” Pocono Raceway president and CEO Brandon Igdalsky said. “We think it’s going to be a great fit for the guys who are coming up through the ranks with aspirations to get to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It just makes sense to have another Sprint Cup Series track on the (Xfinity) schedule. And one that’s different and unique and not like the ones they already race at.”
The fact that Xfinity and Comcast are headquartered in Philadelphia was another reason to bring the series to Pocono.
“With us doing a lot more with Pennsylvania companies, it fit what we were doing,” Igdalsky said. “Everybody kind of recognized that together and we got together to see if we could make it happen.”
Nothing has been finalized, but Igdalsky said the plan is to hold the ARCA Series race Friday, the Xfinity Series race Saturday and the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday.
Several Sprint Cup drivers could pull double duty and also compete in the Xfinity race at Pocono.
However, the Xfinity Series is all about some of the young, up-and-coming drivers in the sport. Heading into Saturday’s race at Dover, Chris Buescher leads the standings with 982 points. Ty Dillon is second with 963, Chase Elliott third with 957 and Regan Smith fourth with 935.
“You’ve got some great young talent in that series,” Igdalsky said. “You’re seeing that now with the championship battle. It’s going to be interesting to see how that shakes out, what happens next year, who’s going to start to rise.”
Tickets for the two NASCAR tripleheader weekends in 2016 are already on sale. Visit www.poconoraceway.com or call 1-800-RACEWAY for more information.
While the Xfinity Series is coming to Pocono, Igdalsky said there still is no decision yet on whether the Verizon IndyCar Series will return to the track next season. He said he hopes to have one soon.
“One day we get this piece of information and it seems really good. Then the next day we look at something else and say maybe not.
We’re really going back and forth,” Igdalsky said. “I’m kind of in the same stage I was IndyCar race weekend. Uncertain, trying to figure it all out.
“We want to have them here. We’ve just got to make it work for everybody.”
Igdalsky did say that the death of Justin Wilson would not be a factor in the final decision. Wilson died from a severe head injury suffered when he was struck by a piece of debris from another car that had crashed during this year’s IndyCar race at Pocono.
“For a lot of our younger staff, it’s the first time they’ve experienced something like that,” Igdalsky said. “It can weigh pretty heavy on you. We had some folks here who took it pretty hard.”