LONG POND, Pa. — Races for this weekend's NASCAR doubleheader at Poconos Raceway don't get underway until Friday, but fans have been lined up since Wednesday night to get into the track.
Workers at the track in Long Pond began admitting campers around 9 a.m. Thursday. Lines of RVs and campers stretched out to Route 115.
Check-in time was moved from noon to 9 a.m. to accommodate the rush of race fans.
"It's nice, it's nice. We missed it last year," said Kris Ewing from Bucks County. "I am excited. We are open here on Thursday. The line is moving good. It's good."
All 3,280 RV spots at Pocono Raceway sold out earlier this week. This is the first time it has ever happened. No one is surprised.
"I've been coming here since 1977 as a day tripper, and it has been a zoo," said Victor Ford from Montgomery County.
The wait time to check in was anywhere between an hour and an hour and a half. People checking in RVs were checking people in every 28 seconds.
Paul Hawley from Georgia has been to plenty of NASCAR races down south. This is his first time at Pocono Raceway. He's thrilled things are going back to normal.
"Once I started getting the emails that racetracks were at 100 percent wide open, I mean I already had to put Atlanta and Talladega off until next year because of COVID restrictions. No showers or restrooms open and no more than six people per site."
As Pocono weekend continues, officials Here are stressing patience. Lines are going to be longer than normal, and wait times for certain events might also take some time.
Races get underway on Friday evening and continue through Sunday.