I've been to about 1/2 the tracks that host Sprint...

I've been to about 1/2 the tracks that host Sprint Cup races and Pocono is, without reservation, the worst track I've ever been to. Let's list the reasons...

1) Traffic Control. Non-existent. Most race venues use state or local police to handle traffic flow. Not Pocono. They've got volunteers (or maybe just people that put on an orange vest and wandered into the area) that randomly close lanes, reverse traffic flow, etc. Invariably, it's done in the wrong direction or at the wrong time. A trained monkey could do a better job.

2) On the topic of traffic flow.... once you wind your way through the maze of closures, you think "hey, I've almost made it". Wrong. You then get to run into the local fire departments setting up roadblocks to have their "drop money in the boot" fundraising. Yeah, I'm feeling real charitable after having another 30-45 minutes of delay added onto the traffic. Wonderful idea, guys.

3) To complete the trifecta, parking. No organization at all. The extent of parking control is to funnel you into one of the entrances, then it's like a toddler's Easter Egg hunt as cars sprint off in various directions to park. The net result is to have about 10 cars occupy space that could fit 30 if there were attendants.

OK, we're in the facility. Home free, right? Nope.

4) Ticket Booths. Admittedly, you should already have paper or print at home tickets. But, on the off chance that you chose Will Call, or need to buy tickets, you will face a staggering array of 3, maybe 4 open windows at the ticket booth. Think that might cause a bottleneck?

5) Seating / Sight Lines. Pocono is a large track, and the triangular layout serves to put the backstretch even further from the grandstands than normal. On average, you'll be able to clearly see a car for about 5 seconds as it zooms past the start finish line. Once it gets into turn 1, gone. With high powered binoculars, you can maybe make out *some* of the tunnel turn. By the way, all this applies if you are in the "good" seats, higher up. Closer to the track, it's even worse.

6) I've not personally experienced this (because I learned at a young age not to throw good money after bad and haven't been back) but Pocono has the unique distinction of having the most draconian re-entry policy of any Sprint Cup track. At EVERY OTHER TRACK you can reenter the seating area with a hand stamp and a ticket. At Pocono, due to "security reasons", you can't do that. Once you are in, you stay in. If you have to leave to get something in your car or for any other reason, then tough. Buy a new ticket. You're not fooling anyone with the "security" nonsense. It's plainly a way to drive concession sales, since you are barring folks from the normal tailgating procedures that make NASCAR uniquely fun.

7) General Facilities. Pocono prides itself on having the longest bathroom around. Seriously, it's written all over the walls. Along with graffiti, dirt, filth, and comatose bathroom attendants. The experience at Pocono makes urinating in a trough (the standard at other tracks) seem like a 5 star hotel.

Many moons ago, Pocono was quaint. Doc and his immediate family made Pocono a unique experience, warts and all. The poor guy must be rolling over in his grave, because his successors have driven the place into the ground. Back in the 80's when I first started attending races there, I looked forward to Pocono. Even back then, while many tracks were starting to get commercialized, Pocono was a breath of fresh air. Now, it's a unique brew of the bad parts of commercial greed and the bad parts of an aging facilty. NASCAR needs to put this dumpster fire of a racetrack out of it's misery, and move the races elsewhere.