More Phoenix Raceway News

Former NASCAR Champion Exits Phoenix Finale Race After Hard Crash

A former NASCAR champion faces an early setback at the Phoenix finale after a tough opening-lap incident shakes up the field.
Screenshot 2025-11-01 060852

“It’s Going to Be a Dogfight”: Rick Hendrick Sets Expectations Straight Before Phoenix Finale

Rick Hendrick remains confident yet realistic ahead of the Phoenix finale, acknowledging fierce competition as he backs his HMS drivers.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Championship Qualifying Nov 4, 2023; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series team o

Justin Allgaier Makes Feelings Clear Against Teammates as Playoff Pressure Mounts

In the run to the title race, Justin Allgaier highlights the key difference between this year and last year's championship crowd.
Justin Allgaier

Who Are Tyler Ankrum’s Parents? Meet Rick Ankrum and Michelle Ankrum

Get to know all about Truck driver Tyler Ankrum's parents, Lisa Heim and former driver Ray Heim, on EssentiallySports.
t ankrum

Denny Hamlin to Put Aside France Family Feud Amid Lawsuit Tensions

Denny Hamlin shrugs off charter suit awkwardness for Phoenix title; Chase Briscoe stays starstruck racing Busch, Hamlin in Championship 4.
Copy of Copy of ES WEB FIs (1080 x 720px) (57)

Who Are Corey Heim’s Parents? Meet Lisa Heim and Ray Heim

Get to know all about Corey Heim's parents, Lisa Heim and former driver Ray Heim, on EssentiallySports.
Corey Heim

Chase Briscoe Issues Honest Reflection on His NASCAR Season’s Turning Point

Chase Briscoe reveals when exactly his tough start with JGR turned around as he shrugs off past troubles to affect his Phoenix finale.
Chase Briscoe

What if the Winningest Drivers Fail to Win Their Respective NASCAR Championships in Phoenix?

How would fans feel if one or more of this year's NASCAR champions won the title without winning even one race this season?
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA NASCAR Cup Series Championship Nov 5, 2023; Avondale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the The Bil

Kyle Larson Not Pleased Despite NASCAR’s Welcome Gesture in Phoenix

Kyle Larson eyes a second NASCAR title at Phoenix, reflecting on preparation, practice time, and unfinished business.
Kyle Larson macht sich bereit für das Training zum Food City 500 in Bristol, TN, USA, Nordamerika Kyle Larson gets ready

EXCLUSIVE: AJ Allmendinger Sees William Byron Winning Cup Championship, but Has High Hopes for Himself to Pull an Upset

AJ Allmendinger picks his 2025 NASCAR Cup champion, talks about Kaulig's Truck venture with Dodge, and offers his stance on the playoffs.
NASCAR: Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona

William Byron Reveals Ruthless Mindset After Daytona 500 High: “Trained Ourselves for That Pressure”

William Byron opens up about the emotional highs after his Daytona 500 win and how mastering that pressure shaped his 2025 season.
NASCAR: Cup Series Playoff Media Day

Kyle Larson Voices Greatest NASCAR Career Frustration: “Everybody Just Assumes I’m Here for the Money”

Kyle Larson opens up about misconceptions surrounding his NASCAR career, addressing what truly motivates him to keep racing competitively.
AUTO: JUL 26 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400

About Phoenix Raceway

article-image

USA Today via Reuters

Phoenix Raceway - Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track

Phoenix Raceway is a one-mile, tri-oval race track situated in Avondale, Arizona, close to Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and presently hosts two NASCAR races yearly.

Phoenix Raceway has additionally facilitated the CART, IndyCar Series, USAC, and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The raceway is presently claimed and operated by NASCAR.

The raceway was initially built with a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) street course that ran on both within and the outside of the primary tri-oval. In 1991, the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51-mile (2.43 km) inside design.

Phoenix Raceway, at present, has an expected seating limit of around 51,000. Lights were introduced around the track in 2004 after the expansion of a second yearly NASCAR race.

History

Phoenix Raceway is home to two yearly NASCAR races, one of 13 tracks on the NASCAR timetable to have more than one race a year. It originally joined the NASCAR Cup Series plan for 1988 as a late-season occasion, and in 2005 the track was given a spring date.

The now-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was included in 1995 and the now-NASCAR Xfinity Series started running there in 1999.

NASCAR reported that its final race would be run at Phoenix for 2020, denoting the first run-through since NASCAR inaugurated the weekend that Homestead-Miami Speedway would not be the host track. The track will likewise hold the title for the 2021 NASCAR Cup season.

Phoenix International Raceway was built in 1964 around the Estrella Mountains on the edges of Avondale. Due to the landscape and the fuse of a street course and drag strip, creators needed to assemble a "dogleg" into the backstretch.

The first road course was two miles (3.2 km) long and ran both inside and outside of the fundamental oval track. The slopes nearby the track likewise offer an exceptional vantage highlight. "Landmark Hill," situated close to turns 3 and 4, is a top choice among race fans on account of the novel view and lower ticket costs.

At the highest point of this slope lies a USGS seat marker known as Gila and Salt River Meridian, presently recorded on the National Register of Historic Places. Some time before Phoenix Raceway existed, this spot was the first land study point for all of what later turned into the territory of Arizona.

Phoenix International Raceway was built with the objective of being the western home of open wheel racing. Sports vehicles and USAC started dashing at the track in 1964, and the track immediately turned into a top pick of drivers and before long supplanted the old track at the Arizona State Fairgrounds.

In 1977, the main Copper World Classic was held, a marque occasion for USAC dwarf and Silver Crown vehicles.

2021 Race

Martin Truex Jr. got into the lead on a late restart during the Instacart 500 and cruised to his first victory of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The driver took the checkered flag ahead of the field by 1.698 seconds to snap a 29-race winless streak and earn his first Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway.

Quick Facts

Location7602 S Avondale Boulevard Avondale, Arizona 85323 United States
OperatorNASCAR
Major EventsNASCAR Cup Series

Instacart 500 (Spring, 2005–present)

Season Finale 500 (Fall, 1988–present)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Call 811 Before You Dig 200 (Spring, 2005–present)

Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 (Fall, 1999–present)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Lucas Oil 150 (1995–present)

Length1.000 mi (1.609 km)
Most WinsKevin Harvick (9)
Most StartsMark Martin (34)
PolesRyan Newman (4)