Pocono Track Draws Drivers' Ire

Speedway Motorsports wants to buy Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., but the maligned venue's owners aren't interested in selling to the track giant. (By Doug Pensinger -- Getty Images)

At 500 miles, drivers have long complained the race is way too long. If NASCAR surveyed the garage, series officials would be hard pressed to find a single person who doesn't want the race shortened.

"I think if we ran 400-mile races, that would be better," Busch said. "There would be more racing throughout the event than just riding around for however many miles because you have so long to go."

Asked what he expected out of Sunday's 500-miler, the series points leader said "a boring race" with little passing.

"That's a big concern," Busch said. "I don't know what we'll see. You just get within a few car lengths of the guy in front of you and you get stuck and you just can't go anywhere."

That echoed the sentiments of Johnson, the two-time defending champion who says Pocono doesn't produce good racing because of the long straightaways, tight turns and lack of banking. He was also critical of the grass along the short chute of the speedway and the lack of protective barriers.

"It's tough to really put on a good race here. It really is," he said. "We sound awfully harsh in saying these things, but we're just trying to be honest. We all appreciate and respect the Mattiolis and all that they've done. It's not a personal dig on them.

"But there is no denying that this is an old, old facility. And as racing has gone on and we're trying to put on a better show, it's just been tough to do that here."

Further aggravating the drivers is that they'll be back here again in eight weeks. Although Pocono is one of 14 tracks with two Cup races, the proximity of its two summer dates has long been questioned.

But with crowds estimated at 130,000, affordable tickets and a facility that is owned outright with no debt, the Mattiolis appear determined to hold on to the speedway.