More Phoenix Raceway News

Ryan Blaney Willing to Make One Big Championship Compromise

Ryan Blaney stays calm in NASCAR’s championship hunt, reflecting on Phoenix, setbacks, and the evolving future of the finale.
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Denny Hamlin Ready to Sacrifice Himself for JGR Against Team Penske

Denny Hamlin opens up on his team-first approach and Phoenix focus as JGR battles Penske’s late-season dominance.
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Denny Hamlin Downplays Championship Pressure as Teammates Fight for Phoenix Glory

Denny Hamlin stays focused on racing, shrugging off pressure while teammates battle for Championship 4 spots at Phoenix.
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Denny Hamlin Chokes Up Over Ailing Father’s Health: “Just Want Him to Hang On”

Denny Hamlin opens up about his father’s declining health, especially now that he's on the cusp of winning his first-ever championship.
Denny Hamlin and Dennis Hamlin

Denny Hamlin Refuses to Claim ‘Greatness’ Despite Closing In on Dale Earnhardt’s Legacy

Denny Hamlin reflects on his 60th NASCAR Cup win while chasing Dale Earnhardt's legacy, but downplays comparison to the greats.
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NASCAR Insider Warns Rivals as Denny Hamlin Gains Three-Week Phoenix Edge

Insider warns Denny Hamlin's early Championship 4 lock-in gives him a critical strategic advantage over his scrambling rivals.
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Richard Petty Questions NASCAR’s Lucky Dog Rule After Denny Hamlin’s Late Surge

NASCAR legend Richard Petty demands NASCAR axe the Lucky Dog rule after Denny Hamlin's emotional Las Vegas win.
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Denny Hamlin Reflects on His Shift From Doubt to Trust in Chris Gayle’s Leadership

Denny Hamlin shares how trust in new Joe Gibbs crew chief Chris Gayle turned skepticism into a winning formula.
NASCAR: Cup Series Playoff Media Day

Fans Speculate as NASCAR President Hints at Major Playoff Overhaul

NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell hints at playoff format changes, sparking fan debate over consistency, fairness, and the sport’s future.
NASCAR Fans

Dale Jr & Co. Unsold on Joey Logano’s Championship Chances as Penske Star Sits Below Cutoff Line

Dale Jr. and TJ Majors weigh in on Joey Logano’s championship chances as he narrowly survives the cutoff, setting up a high-stakes Round of 8.
Screenshot 2025-10-08 131759

Dale Jr. Calls Out Joey Logano’s Repeated NASCAR Playoff Defense With Bold Confession

Dale Jr. voices growing frustration with NASCAR’s playoff system, taking aim after Joey Logano’s recent remarks reignited debate.
Screenshot 2025-10-08 055821

Denny Hamlin’s Ally Demands Joey Logano’s Playoff Run Be Sabotaged Ahead of Phoenix

Tensions rise in the NASCAR playoffs as a surprising voice from Denny Hamlin’s camp sparks controversy before the Phoenix finale.
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About Phoenix Raceway

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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)