Pocono Raceway officials announced Tuesday the addition of a NASCAR XFINITY Series event to the track’s 2016 racing schedule.
The 250-mile race is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, and will be part of a three-race weekend at the 2.5-mile track. The Sprint Cup Series’ Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 is slated for Sunday, June 5 while the Pocono 200 ARCA Racing Series event will kick off the weekend’s racing activities.
It will be the first appearance for the XFINITY Series at Pocono, which has hosted NASCAR-sanctioned events since 1974.
Track president and CEO Brandon Igdalsky said race fans “have been asking for this to happen for several years.”
Comcast, parent company of series sponsor XFINITY, is based in Philadelphia.
“From Day 1 we’ve been focused on enhancing the way fans experience NASCAR and highlighting the competition and youth in the XFINITY Series,” Matt Lederer, director of sports brand marketing for Comcast, said. “The addition of an event at Pocono Raceway in our home state … will help carry the momentum built in the first year of our partnership into 2016.”
In addition to the June race weekend, the Pennsylvania 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is scheduled for July 31 at Pocono, along with the Pocono Mountains 150 Camping World Truck Series race and Modspace 125 ARCA event.
Camping World Truck Series teams have been competing at Pocono since 2010 while the ARCA Series began competing at the track in 1987.
“Pocono is a very unique track,” current XFINITY Series points leader Chris Buescher said. “I’m excited that we are adding a new track to the XFINITY Series schedule. I’ve raced there a considerable amount in the ARCA Series and have always enjoyed it. It will be a good challenge for the XFINITY teams.”