NASCAR is preparing for this weekend’s Circuit of The Americas race. Fans’ excitement peaked; they were hungry for some real, hardcore racing action. However, the Governor of Pennsylvania’s mind is stuck in the future. Four months from now, the Cup Series grid will head to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Penn State. The Great American Race 400 will be flagged off at the 2.5-mile oval racetrack. What is more, the government of Penn State will be its benefactor. Last year, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, launched the Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway tourism campaign. Through NASCAR’s popularity, Pocono Raceway remains crucial in offering national and international exposure to the Commonwealth. So Shapiro extended his support, with a generous sprinkling of gratitude.
An ode to NASCAR from Penn State
Two Cup opponents put on an incredible performance in Pocono last year. The improbable driver Ryan Blaney defeated Denny Hamlin, the Pocono master. He led 44 laps and dominated the final seven laps, holding Hamlin at bay. That provided VISITPA.com with a strong reason to extend its collaboration with Pocono for a second year in a row. In addition, the race increased attendance; according to a 2024 estimate, Pennsylvania’s tourist sector supported 486,871 employment, brought in 192.4 million visitors, and created $76.7 billion in economic effect. The impact that racing can have on a community is demonstrated by those figures. Bravo, Pennsylvania!
In his dedication to this revitalized collaboration with NASCAR, Josh Shapiro expressed his sincere appreciation to X. Shapiro shared some touching thoughts on Pocono Raceway’s news that the PA government is once again its entitlement sponsor. “No one is better at @NASCAR than Pennsylvania. This year, @PoconoRaceway will host the Great American Getaway 400 once again, and I can’t wait to return to the Tricky Triangle for another fantastic event. Josh Shapiro placed extra emphasis on the NASCAR Cup Series race’s extensive influence on Penn State.
The race will be televised by Amazon Prime Video in 2025, with a projected audience of 195 nations in over 29 languages. But this marathon is more than simply a sporting event, Shapiro added. It’s a chance to highlight all that our Commonwealth has to offer and ensure that Pennsylvania is a top vacation destination. Pocono Raceway President Ben May also regaled at the revived alliance. “We are thrilled that Governor Shapiro and his Administration have once again selected Pocono and NASCAR to highlight why Pennsylvania is The Great American Getaway, as over 60% of our fans travel from out of state or abroad.”
Moreover, people will be rushing to see some amazing drivers in action. With astounding statistics, one of them towers over the others. Pocono Raceway has the potential to be a quirky circuit. Because of its size and speed, it seems like a superspeedway. However, it also resembles a road course with three quite varied turns. Turn 1 is based on the now-defunct Trenton Speedway, Turn 2 is based on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Turn 3 is based on the Milwaukee Mile, making it a true Tricky Triangle. However, this venue has been tamed by Cup Series players, particularly Denny Hamlin, who is well-versed in the gimmicks. He is the King of the Poconos after his incredible seven victories here, and he continues to prove himself as an impossible opponent every year.
Denny Hamlin would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon for the most all-time (20) top-five finishes with four more. His 858 laps are less than Gordon’s 1040 total. However, a few of stinging heartbreaks also accompany Hamlin’s huge figures. If not for the No. 11 team’s penalty for using an extra tape, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver would have won another race in 2022. Then, last year, Ryan Blaney showed up as an unexpected competitor, defeating the greatest driver on the track by 1.312 seconds. Therefore, it wouldn’t be shocking if Hamlin returned in 2025 like a ravenous lion ready for its eighth victory. With four months remaining, we have plenty of time for the excitement to build up. The Governor of Pennsylvania is already stirring the hype – all we have to do is go along with it.
