NASCAR At Pocono: 2011 Start Time, Starting Lineup, TV/Radio Listings And More

It’s NASCAR race day at Pocono Raceway, and we’ve got the actual race start time, the starting lineup and some other facts about the second-biggest race of the season for you below.

Start time: The command to start engines will be given at 1:07 p.m. Eastern time. After a few pace laps, the honorary starter will wave the green flag at 1:18 p.m. Eastern. So if you want to skip the pre-race show and just tune in for the race, flip on your TV set at 1:18.

Race name/distance: The Good Sam RV Insurance 500 usually feels like one of the longest races of the year – as does any event at Pocono. Five hundred miles (200 laps around the 2.5-mile raceway) seem to take forever because of the long straightaways and strung-out racing. So find a comfortable spot on the couch and relax.

TV and radio: Today marks the second race of ESPN’s portion of the NASCAR season. Every Cup race will be on either ESPN or ABC for the rest of the year. If you aren’t near a TV, the radio broadcast can be found on your local Motor Racing Network (MRN) affiliate. Click here to see a list of stations where you can listen.

National anthem: A man named Clark Louis is singing the anthem today. Louis is a Pocono Raceway regular when it comes to the national anthem, and his deep, baritone voice is a favorite of track owner Doc Mattioli.

Tickets: There are still tickets remaining for the Pocono race, so you should be safe if you want to take the chance by walking up to the ticket window on race day.

Weather: Looking iffy – another Pocono tradition. According to the unofficial NASCAR weatherman, there’s enough chance of a storm on Sunday morning/early afternoon to be a “little nervous” about the race getting in with no interruptions. On the plus side, the weather will be a pleasant 80 degrees.

Last time: One year ago, Greg Biffle won the summer Pocono race – an event remembered more for Elliott Sadler’s terrifying wreck. More recently, Jeff Gordon claimed his second victory of the season with a June win at the Tricky Triangle.

Starting lineup for today’s NASCAR Pocono race: