Pocono Green 225
The Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons is a NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car race held at Pocono Raceway. Its inaugural race was held on June 4, 2016 with a scheduled distance of 100 laps/250 miles (402.336 kilometres).[1] However, the race was shortened after only 53 laps/132.5 miles (213.238 kilometres) because of persistent rain showers. The race marked the first time NASCAR's second-tier series visited and raced in the state of Pennsylvania since the closure of Nazareth Speedway in 2004.[2] The second running of the event was the first NASCAR-sanctioned event at Pocono to use the stage format, a format that was created prior to the 2017 NASCAR season for all three divisions for all race tracks; the 100 laps were split into three stages, with the first two being 25 laps each and the last consisting of the final 50.[3]
 | |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Pocono Raceway |
| Location | Long Pond, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Corporate sponsor | J.P. Mascaro & Sons |
| First race | 2016 |
| Distance | 225 miles (362.102 km) |
| Laps | 90 Stages 1/2: 20 each Final stage: 50 |
| Previous names | Pocono Green 250 (2016–2017) Pocono Green 250 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons (2018–2019) |
| Most wins (team) | Stewart-Haas Racing (2) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Ford (3) |
In 2020, the distance was reduced to 225 miles and 90 laps—with the first two stage lengths being reduced to 20 laps—as the race was held on Sunday in support of the NASCAR Cup Series' second round of a Pocono doubleheader.[4][5]
Past winners
| Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average speed (mph) |
Full Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles | |||||||||
| 2016 | June 4 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 53* | 132.5 (213.238) | 1:07:08 | 118.421 | Report |
| 2017 | June 10 | 22 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:50:38 | 135.583 | Report |
| 2018 | June 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch* | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 100 | 250 (402.336) | 1:57:59 | 127.137 | Report |
| 2019 | June 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 103* | 257.5 (414.406) | 2:09:30 | 115.760 | Report |
| 2020 | June 28 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 91* | 227.5 (366.125) | 2:05:44 | 108.563 | Report |
| 2021 | June 27 | |||||||||
- 2016: Race shortened because of rain showers.
- 2017: Race time and average speed record.
- 2018: Kyle Busch's win made him the first driver to win at every racetrack that hosts all three NASCAR touring divisions (Gander Outdoors Truck, Xfinity, and Cup). His victory in a Toyota marked all three manufacturers winning the event in the first three races held (Chevrolet won the event in 2016, Ford in 2017, and Toyota in 2018). He also became the first driver to win in all top 3 divisions at Pocono, having won the Truck event in 2015, and the July Cup race in 2017 before.
- 2019 & 2020: Race was extended due to a NASCAR overtime finish
- 2020: Race distance reduced from 250 miles/100 laps to 225 miles/90 laps. Slowest average speed.
Multiple winners (teams)
| # Wins | Team | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 2019, 2020 |
References
- "Pocono Raceway adds Xfinity race for '16". NASCAR. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 29, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- "Xfinity Series Coming To Pocono In 2016". Performance Racing Industry. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- "Stage lengths for 2019 NASCAR season". NASCAR. April 10, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- "Stage lengths for the 2020 NASCAR season". NASCAR. February 7, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- "2020 weekend to feature four NASCAR races in two days". Pocono Raceway. April 3, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
| Previous race: Nashville 300 |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 225 |
Next race: Henry 180 |