One of only a couple of independent race tracks left in NASCAR, Pocono Raceway has a thirty four year history of hosting Cup Series race events.

Pocono was built in the early seventies by Dr. Joseph Mattioli and his wife Rose, who continue to own and operate it to this day. They say if not for NASCAR founder William "Big Bill" France the track would not be in existence today.

"We were on the verge of selling the track because of severe financial problems we were experiencing at the time," Dr. Joe Mattioli said. "We recieved a call from Bill France, Sr., who asked us to meet him in New York, At the meeting he tried to convince me not to sell the track. When I resisted his argument he pulled out his business card and wrote the following message:

On The Plains of Hesitation Lie The Beached Bones of Millions Who Were Within The Grasp of Victory Sat And Waited And Waiting Died

"Needless to say, I took his advice and I didn't wait," Mattioli continued. "He and his wife Annie B., came to the race the next two years to show their support for Pocono Raceway. His son, Bill, Jr., gave us our second NASCAR race a short time later and the rest, as they say, is history."

Pocono holds a lot of racing history in those Pennsylvania mountains.

Richard Petty won the inaugural Pocono on on August 4, 1974.

Tim Richmond beat Ricky Rudd and Geoff Bodine to the line in a photo finish on July 20, 1986.

Bobby Labont swept both Pocono events in 1999.

Jeremy Mayfield knocked the late Dale Earnhardt out of his way to win his first Cup Series race on June 18,2000. Mayfield said in victory lane, "I was trying to rattle his cage."

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and teammate Steve Park wrecked violently together on July 28, 2002.

Rookie Denny Hamlin wins  both Pocono races in 2006.

Some say the track is outdated and the race dates should be moved to another track. I think the track has seen a lot of improvements by the Mattioli family and hope NASCAR continues to race there. 

Sunday's Pocono 500 can be seen live on TNT.