Mattioli was an old-fashioned proud Pennsylvanian. For many years, the NASCAR races at his track, a former spinach farm, were called the Pocono 500 and the Pennsylvania 500. He also was extremely proud of the 3-year-old, 25-acre, solar-energy project near the raceway.
With his family at his side, Mattioli died at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown. Service arrangements have not been announced.
In addition to Rose, Mattioli is survived by daughters Louie and Michelle, son Joseph III, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
With his health declining, the former dentist from the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia last year turned over the daily operation of the raceway to grandsons Brandon and Nick Igdalsky. Pocono and Indianapolis are the last two family-owned tracks hosting NASCAR races.
This year, for the first time, Pocono's two NASCAR Sprint Cup races, June 10 and Aug. 5, will be shortened from 500 to 400 miles each.
At NASCAR's season-ending awards ceremonies last month, Doc and Rose, his wife of 63 years, received the Myers Brothers Award for outstanding contributions to auto racing. The Mattiolis have generously supported hospitals, charities and civic organizations.
Several years ago, I began favorably referring to Pocono Raceway as "Mount Mattioli." Doc never said anything about the nickname. In his prime, I always knew if I asked a question in a telephone interview that he wasn't happy with, I needed to hold the phone receiver far from my ear because his booming response would be heard for miles.
