Pocono Green 250

Pocono Green 250 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons

NASCAR Xfinity Series
Venue	Pocono Raceway
Location	Long Pond, Pennsylvania, United States
Corporate sponsor	J.P. Mascaro & Sons
First race	2016
Distance	250 miles (402.336 km)
Laps	100 (Stage 1: 25 Stage 2: 25 Stage 3: 50)
Previous names	Pocono Green 250 (2016–2017)

The Pocono Green 250 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] Due to NASCAR's recent renewal contract for tracks for the next 5 years, the Xfinity Series is guaranteed to race at Pocono until at least 2020. 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. Stage 1 consisted of the first 25 laps, then Stage 2 being the next 25 laps, making up the first half. The final stage or Stage 3 being the final 50 laps or second half, and any laps in overtime if need be. Unlike the inaugural event it went the full 100-lap/250-mile distance.

In late-2017, NASCAR announced that the aero-package that was used at Indianapolis in 2017 with a 7/8" restrictor plate would be utilized at Indianapolis, Pocono, and Michigan. This means that in 2018, the event will become a restrictor plate race.

Past winners

• 2016: Race shortened because of rain showers.
• 2018: Kyle Busch's win made him the first driver to win at every racetrack that hosts all three NASCAR touring divisions (Camping World Truck, Xfinity, and Monster Energy 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). However, his car failed post-race inspection. 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.

Manufacturer wins

2018 Pocono Green 250

# Wins	Make	Years Won
1	Chevrolet	2016
	Ford	2017
	Toyota	2018

Television broadcasters

The inaugural event was broadcast in the United States on Fox by Fox NASCAR, a division of Fox Sports. Adam Alexander was the lap-by-lap announcer while Michael Waltrip and Danica Patrick were the color commentators. Chris Neville, Vince Welch, Matt Yocum reported from pit lane.^[3] The second running of the event saw FOX's broadcast team consist of drivers only in the booth, on pit road, and in the Hollywood Hotel. Kevin Harvick was the lap by lap analyst with Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer also in the booth. Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Erik Jones were the pit reporters. Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin were in the Hollywood Hotel.

References