NASCAR WCUP: Turn Three is the Key to Pocono

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 14, 2001

Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, is unique among the race tracks on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit with its three long straightaways and three corners. Elliott Sadler-21-Motorcraft Taurus-says getting through turn three, before heading down a 3,740-foot straightaway, is a key at Pocono. Sadler finished in 16th place in the first race there last year and says he is looking forward to returning to the distinctive 2.5-mile track.

ELLIOTT SADLER-21-Motorcraft Taurus-WITH THREE STRAIGHTAWAYS AND THREE TURNS, POCONO IS UNIQUE. CAN YOU COMPARE IT TO ANY OTHER TRACK ON THE CIRCUIT? "No, not really. I think it's a track all by itself, and that's why I like it. I struggled there the first few times I went there because I never ran a Busch car there, so the first time on the track there in a Cup car was pretty tough. I really like the place now. With all the shifting and the three different corners, you have to use every aspect of what you know about driving to be successful there. We qualified pretty decent there last year and some pretty good runs, some bad luck failed us in the second race for a bad finish, but I look forward to going back."

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE DRIVER? "Probably getting through turn number three to get up on the long straightaway. It's pretty tough. You have to be hooked up there because it's such a long straightaway. It really doubles and triples how good you get through that corner, and if you're not good there you're not going to be good at all through the straightaway deal. So we usually try to concentrate on turn three and if we can get through that corner pretty good to make our passes we're gonna have a good day."

Text provided by Marti Rompf

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.