Pocono race to have sponsor for first time since '96
Pocono Raceway will have corporate sponsorship for its June Cup race for the first time since 1996.
Pocono's June 6 race will be called the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Presented by Target. Pocono's June race had been called the Pocono 500 since 1997.
"The time was right," track president Brandon Igdalsky said. "We've been looking for quality sponsors. I thought it was time to find another one for the June event."
Pocono has had the Red Cross and Sunoco help sponsor a second race at Pocono in July called the Pennsylvania 500.
Track owner Joseph Mattioli said last year that Pocono didn't have sponsorship because he didn't need the money.
"I don't need the money and if you don't need the money, what the hell is the sense of sponsorship?" Mattioli said last June. "We call all the shots. All the VIP's on race day are our people, not the sponsor's people."
Igdalsky, Mattioli's grandson, said Mattioli was "on board" with the decision.
"It's not his first choice of what to do," Igdalsky said. "He understands the sports world is different now and you've got to go with the flow. You can't turn the money away."
