PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Phoenix, Arizona, has always attracted a lot of tourists because of its rich history and tradition. These days there is another reason for people to come to Phoenix- the popular and exhilarating Phoenix International Raceway. It was actually in 1988, when NASCAR Winston Cup came to PIR, that car racing really came into its own. The “Valley of the Sun” found itself flooded with racing legends and future stars such as Davey Allison, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and many more. They weren’t disappointed- they realized that nothing they had heard in praise of the racetrack was an exaggeration!

 

HISTORY OF PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL

In 1964, when Phoenix International Raceway was carved out of the foothills of the Estrella Mountains, it was intended to be a new jewel in the crown of American open wheel racing. Drivers like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones and the Unsers soon came to love the one mile paved oval with the unique bend in the backstretch. And they really loved coming to Phoenix, where the tourism industry was just starting to grow and its western style hospitality was second to none.

 

Situated in the 17th largest television market in the U.S., and known as one of the top  sports markets in the country, motor sports events at PIR have emerged as one of the most lucrative revenue producers in the vast city of Phoenix. Phoenix International raceway was carved out of the foothill of the Estrella range of mountains in 1964, but at that time not even the most optimistic would have imagined the popularity the track would eventually enjoy. Its unique 1-mile paved oval with a bend in the backstretch quickly became a favorite with such recognized stars like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones and the Unsers. Phoenix is second to none when it comes to hospitality; the area promises everything in food, lodging and assorted recreation/entertainment options.  It is also well known the world over for its superior facilities for golf, tennis, shopping and even abundant sunshine and good weather.

 

For a raceway that generates $290 million annually for the State economy, the PIR has an equally rich and unparalleled tradition of racing. The Indycars have already been here 58 times, and the annual Fall NASCAR weekend -- including NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch, Craftsman Trucks and Featherlite Southwest Series races -- one of the biggest events in the entire state, further contribute to the raceway’s fame. It’s now become a custom for the track authorities to expect a choc-

Track Information
Features
Opened	1964
Track Length	1 mile oval
Banking in Corners	Turns 1-2: 11°; Turns 3-4: 9°
Banking on Straights	None
Length of Frontstretch	1,179 feet
Length of Backstretch	1,551 feet
Grandstand Seating	76,812
Qualifying Record	Arie Luyendyk, 183.599 mph (19.608 sec.) - 3/23/96
Race Record	Roberto Guerrero, 138.020 mph - 4/12/87
Laps	500 laps=500 miles

a-block stadium for every race. Boasting of one of the most diverse racing schedules, Phoenix proudly hosts the Checker Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race, probably the biggest one-day sporting affair in Arizona. Before the International Speedway Corporation, a leading motor sports entertainment company, took over the operations of the PIR, it was owned and operated by Emmett “Buddy” Jobe until 1985. The Raceway flourished immensely under the able and shrewd management of Jobe who is truly responsible for its strategic growth into a 78,000-seat, 1-mile oval that it is today. The world's premier stock car racing division, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, first arrived at PIR in 1988. Besides the NASCAR Winston Cup Series event, the facility's array of events includes the Copper World Classic, the MCI WorldCom Indy 200/Chevy Trucks NASCAR 150, the Grand American Road Racing Assn. and the Outback Steakhouse 200 NASCAR Busch Series. The storied history and tradition associated with the Phoenix International Raceway reaffirms its loyalty to the community and standing as one of the economic leaders in the state. As per an Arizona State University survey, car race fans come to PIR from all over the country and spend large amounts of money- equal to events such as the Super Bowl and Fiesta Bowl (national championship game).

 

TRACK INFORMATION

The 1-mile long rack is oval shaped with 11-degree banking in the 1st and 2nd turns, 3-degree banking in the front and 9-degrees in the back. It was opened in 1964, with a 56-71 feet width. The Phoenix International Raceway back straight- 1,551 feet is higher than frontstretch, which is 1,179 feet. It has the enviable seating capacity of nearly 78,000. Situated in the sixth-largest city in the United States, Phoenix, Raceway has been entertaining its fans since much before its very first IRL race that took place in 1996.

 

SEATING ARRANGEMENT AND DETAILING

 

 

 

 

 

Area Info: Apart from being the home of Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix is the sixth-largest city in America, with approximately 1.3 million residents and promises its visitors a wide variety of edifying and leisurely activities. Greater Phoenix gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy countless activities ranging from outstanding museums, galleries, performing arts, fine dining, and horseback riding and cowboy shoot-outs. The climate makes outdoor activities, such as desert jeep tours and hot-air ballooning, a way of life.           

 

 

Fans will be delighted to know that there are many major events coming up in October. The 4th of October will see the practice and qualifying for the inaugural running of PIR's NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend featuring the NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series and Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series. The Featherlite Southwest Series cars will qualify first, followed by the Winston West Series racers. The finale will be what is usually one of the best on-track events of the season - a 20-lap 'last chance' race to fill out the Featherlite field. The tickets for the Infield are $100 for the first row, each space, $75 for the second row and $50 for the third row. The end of the month, the 30th of October will hail the beginning of another NASCAR weekend with more track activity than any fan can handle! The day starts with practice for the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series racers, then the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and NASCAR Busch Series teams. Following all this is the qualifying round for the trucks and NASCAR Busch Series cars, and then the Featherlite drivers get one final practice session before they get the green flag for the featured race of the day- the Cruise America 125! The tickets are to die for as general admission for just $15 a 4-day Infield pass (general admission) for only $95. Also available is Weekend Pre-Race Pit Pass (Not an admission ticket), only for those aged 18 years and more for just $45.

 

PRICING REGULATIONS

Phoenix International Raceway Ticket orders are usually processed within 24 hours, through the weekdays, of their placement. If the race is within the next 72 hours, a call to this number (800-451-8499) can be made for special delivery arrangements.  In case of the desired tickets being unavailable, the Darlington Raceway offers its fans the choice to purchase other seats or even cancel the order altogether. However, there are no cancellations once the order has been processed.