2007 Pennsylvania 500 @ Pocono Raceway

Race #4

continued from Race #3

As I go back to Pocono Raceway for the 7th time in 6 years (5th consecutive) in just a few short days, I wanted to share my first experience at what is know as The Tricky Triangle.

If you read Race #2, you know early 2007 was when I met the woman of my dreams who has now been my wife for 10 months & 3 days.  She had a house at the Jersey shore (not that Jersey shore) which I spent a few weekends at with her during the summer of 2007.

Sea Girt (this Jersey shore)

I spent most my summers in Newport, RI after college and never knew NJ had "this Jersey shore."  Like most people outside NJ, I had a stereotypical view of the Jersey shore until I met Danielle.

Obviously, Danielle knew I loved watching NASCAR and going to races so she showed a bit of interest in the sport. I recall her asking me if I knew that it was a privately owned company and describing the sport as genius. Think about it: we all have our favorite drivers and actually pay money for their hats, shirts, etc that contain their sponsors' logos.  We pay to advertise for companies we have no affiliation with and don't even blink an eye.  Then our driver switches sponsors every few years and we follow by purchasing new gear.

NASCAR = GENIUS

After her "research," she had asked me to take her to a race.  I was of course beyond thrilled so I ordered her some Dale Jr gear and checked the schedule for the next feasible race to attend.  There it was - talk about a parlay.  We were hanging at the Jersey Shore Friday & Saturday night, then leaving early Sunday morning to head over to NYC's home track.  It was a quick 2 hour drive to Pocono Raceway and we were there with plenty of time to tailgate.

Walking into the track, I spotted a Lamborghini Murcielago adjacent to the track.  And what was sitting immediately next to that beautiful Lamborghini ...

...
you guessed correctly if you said a 1980s Ford F150 w/ a ladder rack.  It wasn't just any 1980s Ford F150 - there was a tarp over the ladder rack and a couple sleeping on an air mattress in the bed of the truck.  I welcomed my wife to the NASCAR world where all walks of life come together as one to support the best auto racing on the planet.



We made our way into a packed house on a beautiful August afternoon to watch Kurt Busch (the same Kurt Busch I had seen in a confrontation w/ Tony Stewart at  Race #3) dominate the race.  As a Dale Jr fan, I was pumped to see that Budweiser (the brand I was supporting in the stands) car running up front all day until seeing him spin.  Soon enough, the #8 car was back up front and leading laps.  Talk about being pumped up!  If you have ever been to a race when Jr is leading, you know what I'm talking about!  Even though he finished in 2nd, I was still psyched as no driver had anything for that dominant #2 car.  The race would go down as the "Battle of the Beers" - Dale Jr's Budwieser vs. Kurt Busch's Miller Lite.

You can watch the race HERE

We left after the race and went back to our car to do some post race tailgating in what is now Pocono Raceway's solar farm - Pocono Raceway is the world's larges solar powered sports facility.  (see the photo above for size comparison to motorsport's biggest infield)

STORY:  Pocono Raceway goes solar

VIDEO:  Pocono Raceway goes solar

"I borrowed some money from my wife and went ahead and did it."

                                                                                           -Doc Mattioli

As an architect, being green is something that is huge in our industry and I will always support a sports venue that is a pioneer in the renewable energy world.  Oh yeah, the fast cars and great racing have something to do with it too!

My wife went from not knowing anything about the sport to someone who has been to 13 races in the past 6 years.  You be the judge of how addictive the NASCAR experience is to a rookie...

See you tomorrow, Pocono Raceway!

next up: Race #5 @ Richmond International Raceway