Pocono Raceway NASCAR and ARCA races will honor Lehigh Valley military members, including the late Joshua Klinger

Klinger, of Williams Township, was 21 when he was killed in 2005 in Iraq. Sailors stationed at U.S. Navy Operational Support Center Lehigh Valley are being treated to NASCAR VIP treatment.

NASCAR and the ARCA Racing Series are each honoring local members of the military, including one posthumously, during events this weekend at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

Saturday, during the ARCA race, the No. 82 car driven by Sean Corr will carry on the hood a photograph of deceased U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Joshua Klinger. Klinger, of Williams Township, was 21 when he was killed June 14, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while serving in Fallujah, Iraq.

Klinger's family will serve as honorary pit crew members for the ARCA Pocono 200 scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from Corr's car owner, Empire Racing LLC. Afterward, they'll be presented with a hood replica of the No. 82 Ford Fusion signed by drivers, crew members, military members and others on hand for the race.

The team's manager, John Bellesfield, says in the release he is from the Easton area as well.

"This is just another way of recognizing our military and the sacrifices they make each and every day," Bellesfield says in the release.

For the Pocono race weekend's main event, the Pocono 400 at 1 p.m. Sunday, NASCAR is hosting 20 sailors from the U.S. Navy Operational Support Center Lehigh Valley, 1400 Postal Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. They will be given NASCAR-style VIP experiences through the "Troops on the Track" initiative, according to a news release from NASCAR.

The sailors' at-track experience is slated to include a meet-and-greet with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, special invitation and recognition at the driver’s pre-race meeting, private tour of the Sprint Cup Series garage, pit road access to witness the driver introductions and national anthem and special seating in the grandstands.

Three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Paul Menard will be sporting patriotic paint schemes on their race cars, NASCAR says.


RACE DAY TRAFFIC CHANGES

Pennsylvania State Police at Fern Ridge on Wednesday announced the following traffic changes in effect for the 1 p.m. Pocono 400 NASCAR race in Long Pond, Pa.

• Beginning about 8 a.m., both lanes of Route 115 from Interstate 80 to the raceway will be one-way south. Beginning about 25 laps from the race conclusion, and continuing until the parking lots are cleared, both Route 115 lanes will be one-way north to I-80.
• Stoney Hollow Road is a no-parking and tow-away zone from Long Pond Road to the I-80 overpass.
• Following the race, the I-80 East off-ramp at Blakeslee (Exit 284) will be closed to traffic.

State police warn of higher traffic volume and possible delays on I-80 and Routes 115, 209, 940 and 903. Those who normally use Route 115 are advised to consider using I-80, Routes 33 and 209 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (Interstate 476) as alternate routes.