Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway president continues family tradition.

LONG POND, Pa. - Brandon Igdalsky reveres the ground where his grandparents, Joe and Rose Mattioli, built Pocono Raceway.

That devotion, and his passion as an avid gardener, inspired the third-year track president to spearhead a green initiative that will leave his footprint on the family business.

"It was a great vote of confidence that my grandfather would have the faith in me to put projects like this together," Igdalsky said after Friday's announcement, detailing how Pocono Raceway will embark on the biggest renewable-energy stadium program in the world.

By building a solar-panel farm on about 25 acres of wooded land adjacent to the track, Pocono Raceway expects to produce three megawatts of electricity per year - enough to power the speedway and sell off the excess to the local grid. According to Igdalsky, the track's electrical self-reliance will "lower carbon dioxide emissions by 5,100 tons" every year.

"I spent eight months working on this project, so it's something I'm particularly proud of," Igdalsky said. "When it comes to fruition, it will be my first big contribution to this company."

The Mattioli clan braved a steady rain to take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking, including "Doc," the 84-year-old patriarch who has been confined to a wheelchair since his near-fatal bout of pneumonia a year and a half ago.

"We think this is a good investment as well as a good legacy for my children and grandchildren," Doc Mattioli said.

Despite the dreary weather that soaked his blue sport coat, Igdalsky was all smiles.

Twenty years after kick-starting his career at the track by picking up garbage following a race, the 33-year-old was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with energy experts and government officials for a historic photo opportunity.

"I've done it all - worked in every department of this facility, learning everything from the ground up," said Igdalsky, the father of 5-year-old twin girls. "I'm going to roll up my sleeves and do whatever's got to be done.

"I knew that I'd be [working] here, but I had no idea I'd be in this position at my age. I'm grateful for it, I'm having a good time, and I will do my best to follow in my grandparents' footsteps to keep their hopes and dreams alive."

"He's well-trained," Rose Mattioli said with a laugh.

With five of her grandchildren and all three of her children working in some capacity at the track, Rose Mattioli is thankful for the chance to share her passion with so many loved ones.

"We've been very fortunate in that our entire family loves racing," she said. "And maybe more important, we love the business of racing."

Rose Mattioli is quick to point out that her husband is still the boss - "his mind is still sharp as a tack" - and that the executive board (consisting of Doc, Rose, and their children Marilou, Joseph, and Michele) has "final say on everything."

Among the more important decisions was the choice of Igdalsky as track president.

"We felt that Brandon could handle it. He's smart and very knowledgeable about racing," Rose Mattioli said.

"Brandon is impetuous, and he'd like to set the world on fire. We just thought he would be a good person to head us for the while and see how it goes. So far, he's done a fine job. Every once in a while he comes up with ideas - you know with kids you hear, 'We've got to do this, Dad; we've got to do that, Dad.' When we sit and talk, we explain why it might or might not be a good idea, and he gets a little annoyed with us once in a while."

One idea that Igdalsky would like to pursue - and it has been discussed by the track's executive board - is to beef up Pocono's schedule with another race, either involving the NASCAR Truck or Nationwide circuits or an IndyCar Series event. 

"I'd love to see IndyCar come back here, and we do get a lot of letters from fans pleading for a race," Igdalsky said. "I realize the reason Pocono Raceway is here was the [initial] association with open-wheel racing," noting that the first 500-mile race on the track's 2.5-mile tri-oval in 1971 featured Indy cars.

Rose Mattioli echoed her grandson's sentiment. "I still get a special thrill when I hear those [open-wheel] cars," she said. "That's where I learned about racing."

Igdalsky envisions "bigger and better" things in the future of Pocono Raceway. And whether it involves adding races or upgrading the facility, the inspiration is heartfelt.

"Our grandparents got it to this point," he said. "Now, it's up to the rest of us to keep it growing."