Doc Mattioli, Father of Pocono Raceway, Receives NMPA Hall of Fame Honor
Just one week shy of the one year anniversary of his passing, Joseph ‘Doc’ Mattioli, father of Pocono Raceway, was remembered in a very special way. Mattioli received one of the sport’s highest honors, induction into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.
“It definitely is a bittersweet moment for our family but it is also a great honor for my grandfather,” Brandon Igdalsky, President of Pocono Raceway, said. “It is a week away from the anniversary of his death and it is a tough week.”
“We all looked up to and idolized him.” Igdalsky continued. “So, it’s nice to honor him in this way.”
Mattioli was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame by Deb Williams, a family friend and an award winning journalist who has covered the sport of NASCAR for over 30 years. Doc’s love of his life and wife, Dr. Rose Mattioli, was also on-hand, as were many other family members, to witness the honor.
“Doctor Joseph Reginald Mattioli Jr. was his formal name,” Williams began as she inducted her friend in front of hundreds of NMPA members and former Hall of Famers. “But we all knew him simply as ‘Doc’.
“The son of Italian immigrants, he called Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania home, moving there after his parents divorced,” Williams continued. “And like many of his generation, he experienced the atrocities of war serving as a Navy corpsman in the Pacific during WWII.”
“Doc’s military service provided him with the GI Bill and the opportunity to attend Temple University in Philadelphia,” Williams said. “While obtaining his dentistry degree, he met and fell in love with Rose, a podiatry student. Of course we all know her as Dr. Rose.”
“After graduation, Doc and Dr. Rose opened their respective practices,” Williams continued. “But he followed a different course with his practice, providing office hours no one else did.”
“They were more like racer’s hours, from early morning to late evening and, needless to say, this was a tiring schedule.”
“So in the 1960’s he cut back his practice,” Williams said. “It was during this time that he became involved in real estate development in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, including Pocono Raceway.”
“During this time, Doc became involved with a group of investors who had an idea to construct a major speedway,” Williams continued. “Doc poured his heart and soul into building one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks.”
“In fact, he was often found on a bull dozer taking care of business,” Williams said. “His spirit and determination overcame every obstacle he faced and he was a pioneer in NASCAR’s growth in the Northeast.”
“Today, Pocono Raceway’s Sprint Cup events are among the largest spectator sports events in the state of Pennsylvania,” Williams continued. “At 86 years of age, Doc completed his latest project, a three megawatt solar farm that made Pocono the largest renewable energy sport facility in the world and a leader in NASCAR’s commitment to environmental responsibility.”
“Today Doc would be described as a workaholic,” Williams said. “But his generation had come through the Great Depression and a World War, so working hard was merely the way you lived your life.”
“Your word was your bond and you were proud of your family,” Williams continued. “That was a successful life. And Doc was successful not just in business but as a man.”
“He cared about his family, his employees, his community, race fans, competitors and yes, the media,” Williams said. “Everyone was important.”
“Doc Mattioli was the father of Pocono Raceway, a compassionate businessman and without him, Pocono Raceway, might not exist.”
Brandon Igdalsky also remembered his grandfather for his generosity as he, along with his grandmother Dr. Rose, accepted the NMPA honors.
“His philanthropic side was phenomenal,” Igdalsky said. “For a kid who grew up on a farm, if he had it, he would give it.”
“He never cared for any recognition for it,” Igdalsky continued. “We had a cousin who thought my grandfather’s name was anonymous because of all he did for charities anonymously.”
Igdalsky spoke for his entire family when he reflected on the legacy of his grandfather, especially as he followed in his footsteps as President of his beloved race track.
“I always felt that if I could fill a portion of his heel, let alone his shoe, that I’ve accomplished something in my life,” Igdalsky said. “The man is a legend.”
“In our family, he is a legend and in our community, he is a legend for what he has done there,” Igdalsky continued. “He had a lot of ideas and sometimes we looked at him like he was out of his mind but growing up in the business and watching him was amazing.”
“We argued, we agreed to disagree but in the end I understood,” Igdalsky said. “It was his playground and his sand box.”
“And it’s still his sand box and will always be his sand box,” Igdalsky continued. “That’s why when you roll through the tunnel at Pocono Raceway, the sign says ‘Welcome to Doc’s Place.’
“My eight year old daughter decided that we needed to put that sign up this year and that sign will be up as long as we’re around.”
Doc Mattioli joined the other 2013 NMPA Hall of Fame inductees Jim Hunter and Ken Squier. Last year’s inductees included Richard Childress and Ricky Rudd.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Tour Day One – Fans to Decide Race Format; Stewart-Hass Confident
Day one of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour included the Sprint Media Luncheon and an explanation of the Sprint Unlimited race, a presentation by Stewart-Haas Racing, and a trip to Richard Childress Racing’s headquarters in Welcome, NC. We will report on the trip to RCR later on tonight.
The race that has traditionally started the season will change in 2013. Once known as the Busch Clash and the Budweiser Shootout is now the Sprint Unlimited, and brings with it a whole new format that will be a fan’s choice event. Fans will determine how the race is run.
Hosted by FOX’s television team of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, and Jeff Hammond, the February 16th race will feature a format whereby fans can choose how the race is run. By voting via text message, mobile phone application, or on Sprint’s website, fans can decide between three options for race format, whether or not teams will able to pit one time for two tires, four tires or even no pit stop, and finally whether or not cars will be eliminated for the final run to the checkered flag. In addition, fans can vote on what fire suit they would like Miss Sprint Cup to wear.
The three race formats are three segments of 40/20/15 laps, 35/30/10 laps, or 30/25/20 laps. Several of the FOX analysts said it was uncertain whether the new Generation Six car could go 40 laps without a pit stop. Others wanted to see the ending segment to be twenty laps. Fans will decide. Voting closes for this on February 23th at 11:59 PM.
Fans will also have a choice of voting for allowing teams to have a two-tire stop, four-tire stop, or no pitting at all for tires. The voting for this poll will end on February 16th, the day of the race at the end of the first segment.
An elimination scenario will allow fans to vote whether or not there will be eliminations for the final segment. Fans have a choice of having no cars eliminated from the final segment, two cars, four cars, or six cars. The theory is that it will keep drivers from sandbagging in the first two segments. When asked if there weren’t enough cars left in the final segment, would cars still be eliminated? Mike Joy’s answer was, “we’ll get back to you on that.”
Fans can finally vote on the uniform Miss Sprint Cup will wear. The choices are pictured on the Sprint smartphone application and on the website. The smartphone application called NASCAR 13 can be found in the App Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices. Fans can also go to www.NASCAR.com/sprintunlimited to vote. A vote can also be cast by text message. Fans were encouraged to “vote early and often.”
The Stewart-Haas presentation included drivers Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and their crew chiefs along with director of competition Greg Zippadelli. Each crew chief oozed confidence for the new season as did the drivers. As was expected, some of the questions about Danica Patrick’s outlook for the 2013 season, many of them directed at team co-owner Stewart. Stewart said that Danica was a fast learner and was “far ahead” of where he was with the same amount of time on the track in stock cars. When asked if he might consider swapping points with Patrick to give her a head start, Stewart replied, “No. I worked hard for those points, but I have the most confidence that Danica will be fine.”
On writer asked if Stewart’s mother had encouraged him to continue his racing career once it became obvious he was talented enough to make it in racing. “You know what, that started a big fight. She wanted me to go to college.” Newman must have had the same conversation at home. The holder of an engineering degree from Purdue University, Newman said, “I lost that argument.
When asked if the new car had caused problems, citing the drafting accident at Daytona that took so many cars out, Stewart said, “Every year it’s trial and error on drafting and setting the car up. I really don’t feel any anxiety on this at all.” When asked if he had even considered the Roger Penske offer of an Indianapolis 500 ride for 2013, Stewart said no, but he thought the offer was still available in the future. Patrick was also asked about Indy, but she insisted her focus was on Sprint Cup this year.
“Being competitive in Sprint Cup is going to be two handfuls of work, so my focus is on NASCAR,” Patrick said. “I’m supportive of that as long as things are going well here,” Stewart chimed in.
Sponsorship continues to be iffy for the SHR team. Stewart revealed that nine races are still without sponsorship on his No. 14 Chevrolet. Furthermore, Newman’s ride has eight unsponsored races and Patrick three. Stewart expressed that he felt things would work out.
Patrick said that she has “nothing set in stone” for the Nationwide Series this year. “We’re working on it. It’s the perfect plan for next year,” Patrick said.
NASCAR Sprint Media Tour Hosted By Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes and Quotes #1
Baby Hamlin Arrives
Denny Hamlin and his girlfriend Jordan Fish welcomed their first child into the world on Sunday January 20th. Hamlin announced the birth of their baby girl by sending out a tweet with a picture earlier today. Hamlin said Taylor James Hamlin was born at 8:20 PM January 20th weighing 6 pounds, eight ounces and 20 inches in height. Hamlin said that Taylor and Jordan are doing well.
Hamlin only participated in one day of Daytona testing two weeks ago because of the potential birth of his daughter. But Taylor didn’t arrive until this past weekend. Hamlin’s No.11 team had Michael McDowell in the car last week during the Charlotte test.
Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing are looking like early favorites to win the Sprint Cup. Hamlin and his team showed how strong they can be just before the Chase last season and Hamlin believes the No.11 team will be contending for the championship this season.
Hamlin will be excited to share success with his new daughter this season and that will be a motivational factor for Hamlin. Baby Taylor should be in victory lane with her father soon if Hamlin can start out the season strongly and earn some early season victories.
