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Pocono Raceway Sees More Day Visitors

The day after the Pocono 400, crews are busy cleaning up the track and offering stock car rides to some race fans. The president of the Pocono Raceway said the ...

The day after the Pocono 400, crews are busy cleaning up the track and offering stock car rides to some race fans.

The president of the Pocono Raceway said the shorter race this year is proving to be a success for the drivers.

"I think it's a great thing," said Brandon Igdalsky. "You saw the urgency of the drivers trying to get out to the front real fast and stay there. There wasn't that lull where many of the drivers pick and choose."

More than 10,000 race fans packed Pocono Raceway to watch the Pocono 400 on Sunday, but according to local business owners, they say it didn't seem like that crowd stuck around all weekend long.

Businesses owners, like Megan McFadden of Sherri's Sweet Treats said business picked up on Sunday.

"The weather was much more beautiful than usual. It wasn't rainy, the race wasn't put off as usual and we were slammed," said McFadden.

Ray's Tuscan Villa next door was ready for the large crowds, but instead, got plenty of orders from the racing teams.

"I did expect more, but the people from the track and race groups all came in and they liked the food. As far as that goes, we had a really great week," said Alan Knee, the co-owner of Ray's Tuscan Villa.

At Harmony Beverage in Lake Harmony, they saw most of their business the day after the race.  Mainly, people from out of town, stocking up on Yuengling, the local brew, which isn't sold everywhere.

"People will come in and buy five, six cases of it and take it home because they can't get it anywhere else," said Lynnsae Powers, a sales associate at Harmony Beverage.

The owner of the track says he sees more fans this year coming in for the day and has been doing what he can to accommodate the fans.

"We're trying to work with the hotels to curb their rates. Some of them do, some of them don't.  I think that has a lot to do with what we're seeing as far as fans coming into the area and staying," said Igdalsky.

The CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau said he will be addressing that issue with staff from area hotels and resorts this week.

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