Add Pocono Raceway to the list of 2017 NASCAR experiments. Its July race is moving to a single-day format, making the event more cost efficient for both teams and spectators alike.
The 2.5-mile, triangular track announced Monday they’ll hold Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying as well as the race Sunday for their second race weekend of the summer from July 28-30. The Friday of that weekend will now be a “FanFest” event for Cup drivers while only practice will be held for the cars that Saturday.
The racetrack sent out a tweet confirming the move for the Cup Series. The ARCA race for that weekend will run Friday while the Camping World Truck Series event remains on Saturday afternoon.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Our July weekend will feature @MonsterEnergy @NASCAR Cup Series qualifying & #PA400 on the same day! #WhatTurn4 pic.twitter.com/UDiQln73wo
— Pocono Raceway (@PoconoRaceway) February 20, 2017
The Tricky Triangle’s first race weekend, from June 9-11, will have a more traditional weekend schedule, with MENCS qualifying on Friday afternoon and the race taking place on Sunday.
Kurt Busch won the first race of the summer last season at Pocono while rookie Chris Buescher pulled the upset in the July event. Pocono remains one of the last independently-owned tracks in NASCAR along with Indianapolis and the Monster Mile in Dover.