Eastern Motorsport Press Association
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Drs Joe and Rose Mattioli

      A  successful pair of health-care professionals, Drs. Joe & Rose  Mattioli of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, combined their love of people and  motorsports into a solid package and they became the driving force  behind the creation and success of the multi-faceted Pocono Raceway.
              The  Mattiolis first met each other when they were students at Temple  University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Joe studying to be a dentist  and Rose studying to be a podiatrist.  
            Married  in 1948, they opened their practices together in Philadelphia 1952 and  then they moved in the late 1960s to the Pocono Mountains to see  through their dream of building a first-class speedway that would bring  major-league automobile racing to the region.
     It  took several years to turn a former spinach farm into the  relatively-flat, tri-ovaled Pocono International Speedway that opened  in 1968, but the Mattiolis devoted all of their time and efforts into  seeing that such a thing took place.  And  although Joe – a United States Marine Corps veteran of World War II who  is known as “Doc” to one and all – was the head of the operation, Rose  was “the woman behind the man” and her counsel and behind-the-scenes  contributions to the overall development and success of Pocono Raceway  can’t be denied. 
             Things, however, were not always unencumbered for Pocono.  During  the early 1980s cash-flow problems and a boycott of the track by old  United States Auto Club-breakaway Championship Auto Racing Teams  operation threatened to see the track sold.  But the Mattiolis weathered the storm and then worked hard to get the family-owned speedway back on solid footing again.  And  once that happened “Doc” reorganized his track – which outside of the  Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the only major speedway that is owned by  a single family – so that it was now a complete family operation and it  will stay that way forever.

             Pocono  has become such a successful attraction that the Mattiolis have turned  down several bona fide offers of $500 million or more to buy the track.  But  all of the improvements that have been made over the years to make  things better for the racers and fans have been done with the idea that  a Mattioli family member will always be in charge there.

            A  close personal friend of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., “Doc” has  turned Pocono Raceway into one of the most popular NASCAR Cup Series  stops.  And he and Rose knew the importance of  being accessible to not only those who raced at Pocono, but to those  who filled the grandstands, too.
             Over  the years the Mattiolis worked hard to see their dream come true and in  the process they made many friends in the motorsports community.  They  also recognized the value that the motorsports press played in the  growth and development of not only Pocono Raceway but to motorsports in  general.  And in this regard Drs. Joe & Rose  were longtime supporters of the Eastern Motorsports Press Association  and they were popular frequent attendees and sponsors of some of the  EMPA’s professional and social activities.

             All  of this hands-on work at Pocono Raceway and elsewhere, however, came to  an end on August 5, 2011, when “Doc” tearfully announced at a press  conference that at the age of 87 he had resigned as Pocono’s chief  executive officer and that he and Rose were retiring.  He  then announced that the day-to-day operation of Pocono Raceway was now  to be handled by the Mattiolis’ three oldest grandchildren – with  grandson Brandon Igdalsky moving up from his president’s post to that  of CEO.

      But  the high standard of motorsports excellence and the resulting  philanthropic efforts that Drs. Joe & Rose Mattioli were able to  achieve as a result of their efforts to build a world-class speedway in  the Pocono Mountains will never be forgotten.
 














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  • Home
  • History of the EMPA
    • History of the EMPA-The 1970's
    • History of the EMPA- 80's
    • History of the EMPA- The 1990's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2000's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2010's
  • EMPA Application
  • EMPA Hall of Fame A thru L
  • EMPA Hall of Fame M thru Z
  • Convention Sponsors
  • Convention Info & Photos
    • Hotel Info & Room Reservations
    • Convention Photos >
      • Convention Photos 2016
      • Convention Photos 2017
      • Convention Photos 2018
      • Convention Photos 2019
  • Contest Rules
    • Pocono Raceway/EMPA Writer's Contest
    • Brice's Auto Parts Inc./NAPA Auto Parts EMPA Photographer's Contest
    • American Honda Motor Co./EMPA Video and Broadcast Contest Rules
  • Award Winners
    • EMPA National Driver of the Year
    • Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport award
    • Richie Evans North East Driver of the Year
    • Ace Lane Photographer of the Year
    • Jim Hunter Writer of the Year
    • Newsmaker of the Year award
    • John Blewett lll Young Gun award presented by New England Fuels
    • Jerry Reigel Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing award
    • Ernie & Marilyn Saxton Service Award
    • Pocono Raceway Writer's Contest Judges Comments by Year
    • Honda Video Contest Winners by Year
  • Newsletter Archives