2011 February Pole Sitter: #99-Carl Edwards, 137.279mph [track record], finished 28th

2010 November Pole Sitter: #99-Carl Edwards, 136.389mph, finished 1st

Track Qualifying Record: Carl Edwards, 2/26/2011, 137.279mph

Oldest Pole Winner: Mark Martin, 50 years, 3 months, 9 days, 4/18/2009

Youngest Pole Winner: Kyle Busch, 20 years, 11 months, 20 days, 4/22/2006

2011 February Race Winner: #24-Jeff Gordon, 102.961mph, started 20th

2010 November Winner: #99-Carl Edwards, 110.758mph, finished 1st

Race Record: Tony Stewart, Nov 1999, 118.132mph

Slowest Race Record: Al Kulwicki, 1988, 90.457mph

Oldest Race Winner: Mark Martin, 50 years, 3 months, 9 days, 4/18/2009

Youngest Race Winner: Kyle Busch, 20 years, 5 months, 11 days, 11/13/2005

Most Wins - Active Driver: Jimmie Johnson, 4

Most Wins - All Time: Jimmie Johnson, 4

Most Poles: Ryan Newman, 4

Most Top 5s: Mark Martin, 12; Jeff Gordon 10

Most Top 10s: Mark Martin, 19; Jeff Gordon, 18

Most Lead Changes: 28 - 2/27/2011

Fewest Lead Changes: 1 - 11/4/1990

Most Leaders: 13 - four times, last 4/10/2010

Fewest Leaders: 2 - 11/4/1990

Most Cautions: 11 - 11/7/2004

Most Caution Laps: 66, 11/2/2003

Fewest Cautions: 2 - 11/7/1999

Fewest Caution Laps: 10, 11/7/1999

Most on the Lead Lap: 29 - 11/2/2003

Fewest on the Lead Lap: 3 - 10/30/1994

Most Running at the Finish: 41 - three, last on 4/21/2007

Fewest Running at the Finish: 27 - 11/5/1989

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Ricky Rudd, 1995, started 29th

Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 262 - Dale Earnhardt, 11/4/1990

Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 10 - Kevin Harvick 4/22/2006

Most Wins by a Manufacturer: 13 - Ford

Jepson promoted to Communications Manager of Phoenix: Phoenix International Raceway announced the promotion of Jennifer Jepson to Communications Manager. In her new role, Jepson will manage daily operations in all areas for the company's communications department. Jepson joins recently hired Director of Communications, Dave Lockett, who joined Phoenix international Raceway earlier this year. Jepson originally joined the company in 2011 as Client Relations Coordinator in the sales & marketing department where she helped manage the activation of all corporate sponsorships. Raised in Phoenix, AZ., Jepson graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.(PIR)(2-1-2012)

Checkered Flag Run at Phoenix March 2-3: Race fans and motorcycle enthusiasts will celebrate diversity during the 2nd Annual Checkered Flag Run to Phoenix International Raceway's NASCAR Weekend on March 2-3. The exciting two-day event will include a ride to Phoenix International Raceway and an opportunity to enjoy the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race. The largest multicultural motorcycle gathering at NASCAR, The Checkered Flag Run will launch with a kickoff reception featuring live entertainment on Friday, March 2 from 6-10 p.m. at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, AZ. Saturday, March 3 will begin with a ride to Phoenix International Raceway to enjoy the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race. Riders will start from three separate locations, including Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Radisson Hotel Phoenix Airport and Radisson Hotel Phoenix Chandler, and will arrive at the Phoenix International Raceway by 9 a.m. Tickets to the 2012 Checkered Flag Run can be purchased for $25 until March 1 by calling 1-866-498-RACE (7223) or through www.checkeredflagrun.com.(PIR)(1-31-2012)

Phoenix names Director of Communications: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that Dave Lockett has been named Director of Communications. Lockett, who most recently directed public relations for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will oversee all communications for PIR effective immediately. Lockett spent 13 seasons with the Steelers after previously working in corporate communications at the National Football League and with several New York-area PR firms.(PIR)(1-15-2015)

PIR to salute American with Veterans Day Tribute: Phoenix International Raceway and NASCAR fans in attendance for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 will celebrate Veteran’s Day by paying tribute to the generations of men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the pre-race show beginning at noon on November 13.
The spectacular pre-race show will also include:
· 36 soldiers (nine each from Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) will be honored in the Bryan Grandstand as they march down toward the track, waving American Flags
· An aerial entrance to the track by the Arizona Skyhawks carrying the American Flag
· Turn 2 display of a 200-foot American Flag presented by Arizona Project ChalleNGe
· National Anthem by Pentagon awarded “Armed Forces Entertainers of the Year”, Catchpenny
· Flyover by four F-16s from the 62nd Fighter Squadron out of Luke Air Force Base
· Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard
· Moment of silence to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom prior to the National Anthem
Although grandstand seats for the November 13, Kobalt Tools 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race are sold out, Hillside tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 are still available. Fans can purchase Hillside tickets and grandstand tickets for the November 12, WYPALL* 200 by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or online at www.PhoenixRaceway.com. Hillside tickets do not allow access into the main PIR gates including the Fan Midway.(PIR)(11-11-2011)

Phoenix set to unveil new track: Phoenix International Raceway’s newly reconfigured and repaved 1-mile oval will be unveiled this weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500. With three NASCAR series competing at Phoenix this weekend, PIR is making sure our new track is ready for a full weekend of racing in the Valley of the Sun. Since the last NASCAR test at PIR on October 4-5, our team has implemented several exercises designed to help develop an upper groove:
· Advanced tire dragging machine focusing on enhancing the upper groove applied rubber into the surface; the machine went through more than 80 tires over 12 days for around 90 hours of actual dragging.
· Working with Richard Petty Driving Experience yesterday and today, six cars and drivers (NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy Lajoie, ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, Tim Fedewa, Steve Grissom, Brad Noffsinger and Andy Thurman) turned laps, focusing on widening the upper groove.
· The cars driven this week are 850-hp NASCAR-sanctioned race cars prepared for Sprint Cup competition.
· The cars collectively ran more than 3,000 miles on a soft Goodyear tire compound.
In addition to the aforementioned measures taken to develop the new track, the new PIR will be washed and swept before being turned over to NASCAR for the event weekend.(PIR)(11-10-2011)

Wrestling champion Robles named PIR Honorary Race Official: Phoenix native and Arizona State University NCAA wrestling champion Anthony Robles – who was born without his right leg – can add another title to his long list of honors. Robles has been named Honorary Race Official for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 13 and will help rev up the crowd for the NASCAR weekend’s signature event. “With the support of my family and my coaches, I believed I could one day be a champion wrestler… I believed that I could be unstoppable,” said Robles. “I am honored to have been chosen to stand in front of my hometown crowd as an Honorary Race Official for the Kobalt Tools 500.” Although grandstand seats for the November 13, Kobalt Tools 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race are sold out, Hillside tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 are still available. Fans can purchase Hillside tickets and grandstand tickets for the November 12, WYPALL* 200 by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or online at www.PhoenixRaceway.com. Hillside tickets do not allow access into the main PIR gates including the Fan Midway.(PIR)(10-11-2011)

Stealing Angels to peform National Anthem for Phoenix Nationwide race: The musical recording trio Stealing Angels will perform the Star Spangled Banner live on ESPN 2 for the WYPALL 200 Nationwide Series race on November 12 at Phoenix International Raceway. The group has been creating buzz in the music industry with their newest single, "Little Blue Sky," available at radio today and iTunes on November 8. The girls will perform songs from their album including their hot single "Little Blue Sky," on PIR's Fan Midway at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. The concert is presented by 3 Amigos Tequila, the official tequila of Phoenix International Raceway. Tickets for the WYPALL 200 powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional start at only $15 and are available by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or online at www.PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(11-8-2011)

Repaved & Reconfigured Phoenix track to debut in November: Race fans will get to experience four days of on-track action and entertainment this November at Phoenix International Raceway when the Kobalt Tools 500 returns as the semi-final race in NASCAR's playoffs - the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The fall event weekend at PIR, November 10-13, will be the first event held on the facility's new, reconfigured racing surface.
In February, PIR President Bryan R. Sperber announced details related to the NASCAR facility's first major track pavement project since 1990. Construction - including the removal and reuse of the facility's old racing surface and subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing - began in March and will continue up to September.
Aside from the installation of a new, four-layer asphalt and aggregate surface, PIR's track pavement project includes the following adjustments:
- Widen the front stretch from 52 to 62 feet
- Reconfigure pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
- Push the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet
- Tighten the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
- Implement variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4
Tickets to the exciting November 10-13 Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR event weekend are available, starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PhoenixRaceway.com or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(11-7-2011)

Los Lobos to perform concert at Phoenix: Multiple Grammy Award winning recording artists Los Lobos - who reached super-stardom in 1987 with their chart-topping cover of Ritchie Valens' La Bamba - will perform at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Budweiser ROLL-Bar main stage prior to the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The five-piece eclectic ensemble from East Los Angeles includes David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Cesar Rosas, and Conrad Lozano and Steve Berlin. The band has been performing and releasing records for nearly four decades - sharing the stage with acts such as Bob Dylan, U2 and the Grateful Dead. With their eclectic style that draws from rock, country, folk, R&B, blues and traditional Spanish and Mexican music, the band continues to redefine their sound while maintaining a rich musical tradition. In August 2010, the group released their first album in four years, entitled Tin Can Trust. This year they launched an international tour with stops in Europe and Australia.(PIR)(11-7-2077)

Phoenix Grandstands sold out: Track President Bryan R. Sperber announced that Phoenix International Raceway's grandstands are sold out for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13. Race fans wishing to attend NACAR's final West Coast race of the season - the first Sprint Cup Series event on Phoenix International Raceway's newly repaved and reconfigured 1-mile oval - may still purchase general admission tickets to PIR's hillside area or infield passes by calling 866-408-RACE or visiting PhoenixRaceway.com. PIR also sold out its grandstands for February's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.(PIR)(11-5-2011)

Phoenix National Anthem performer announced: Minneapolis-based rock band, Catchpenny, will fire up race fans on Veteran's Day weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500 by performing the Star-Spangled Banner on Sunday, November 13 at Phoenix International Raceway. Catchpenny, a favorite band of American military troops, has played more than 150 concerts in combat zones in support of U.S. military serving overseas. What began as one invitation to perform for the troops became years of work, performing for troops serving in Iraq, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern countries. Along the way, band members Mark Kelly, and Christian and Zachary Schauf faced sniper fire, surface-to-air missiles, car bombs, and extreme conditions that more than once landed a band member in a medic's tent. The band was named by the Pentagon as first-ever "Armed Forces Entertainers of the Year" and their rendition of the National Anthem will bring together a culmination of weekend entertainment scheduled in honor of Veteran's Day weekend and NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup in Phoenix. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(11-4-2011)

Adrian Fernandez named Phoenix grand marshal: Adrian Fernandez - driver of the #007 Lowe's Aston Martin LMP1 and one of Mexico's most popular athletes - will step out of his normal role behind the wheel to serve as Grand Marshal for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 13. "I am honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshal for the Kobalt Tools 500," said Fernandez. "At this stage, every round in The Chase is pivotal and I am looking forward to a great race. I competed at PIR on several occasions and, having lived in Phoenix for a long time, I still consider it home. Lowe's and Kobalt Tools have a lot of activities planned leading up to the race, and I am excited to be a part of it all and to have the chance to catch up with a lot of friends and fans." As Grand Marshal for NASCAR's semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Fernandez will rev up the crowd by delivering racing's iconic phrase, "Gentleman, start your engines." He will also work with PIR officials and Lowe's/Kobalt Tools to help welcome fans, drivers, and teams to Phoenix for the final West Coast race of the 2011 NASCAR season.
At 48 years old, Fernandez has enjoyed a racing career that spans almost 30 years. His success on the race track and passion for the sport have placed him on a worldwide stage with a dedicated fan base around the globe. Fernandez made his NASCAR debut in 2005 when he helped promote the sport in his native Mexico by driving the #5 Lowe's/Hitachi Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. It was the first NASCAR Nationwide Series race held outside the United States. He went on to contest four more NASCAR Nationwide races for Hendrick Motorsports that year and two in 2006. That same year, Fernandez - who had formed Fernandez Racing in 2000 with partner Tom Anderson - expanded his program to create Lowe's Fernandez Racing with Fernandez participating as both a team owner and driver in the Rolex Grand-Am Series, and in the American Le Mans Series from 2007 through 2009. Fernandez, alongside teammate Luis Diaz, claimed LMP2 driver and team championship honors in 2009.
Fernandez opened a new chapter in his career in 2010, driving for the iconic Aston Martin Racing team aboard the #007 Lowe's Aston Martin LMP1 entry in selected, prestigious sports car events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Recently, Fernandez and AMR claimed an overall victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., and finished third at the Petit Le Mans in Braselton, Ga.
Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 are available now and start at just $25. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(11-3-2011)

UFC champ will serve as pace car driver at Phoenix: Undefeated UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, will lead the field to the green flag behind the wheel of the Official Pace Car - Toyota Venza - at the start of the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 13. As the official pace car driver in Phoenix's NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup event, the 36-year-old mixed martial artist will take an honorary lap on the newly repaved and reconfigured one-mile oval. Widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Silva is the UFC's longest reigning champion, with 14 consecutive wins - a streak that has lasted five and a half years. Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 and the WYPALL* 200 on November 12 at Phoenix International Raceway are available by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(11-2-2011)

PIR announces traffic Patterns for NASCAR weekend: Track officials at Phoenix International Raceway are making preparations to ensure a safe and efficient travel route for the thousands of race fans who will arrive for the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR event weekend Nov. 10-13. PIR will close out the 2011 West Coast NASCAR season with the debut a newly repaved and reconfigured 1-mile oval for Sunday's NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup race at 1 pm. A multi-agency collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa County's Department of Transportation and Sheriff's Office, and the cities of Avondale and Goodyear will ease travel for fans as they move through numerous communities and jurisdictions on their way to and from the raceway.
During the this month's event weekend at PIR, "Road Safe" deploys more than 4,000 traffic cones, 600 barricades, approximately 75 people, and numerous special signs and vehicles to help ensure safe travel for the nearly 100,000 fans heading to the Kobalt Tools 500. Track officials encourage race fans to plan ahead for the 1 p.m. start time of Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race - the busiest event of the weekend. The race will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. with the heaviest outbound flow for the Nov. 13 race expected to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. During this period, motorists traveling on I-10 will experience intermittent closing of Exit 131 (Avondale Boulevard) to allow for the successful egress of race traffic.
Phoenix International Raceway encourages motorists - passengers, not drivers - to call 511 and press *7 when prompted for traffic updates. Additionally, fans can check for traffic updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway. Park 'N Ride Encouraged
The popular Park 'N Ride program - featuring a new terminal at PIR - returns to Ashley HomeStore Furniture Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans planning to use the service are welcome to enter the Pavilion Grounds at the 83rd Avenue entrance and board a First Student Charter of Phoenix shuttle for transport to the new Park 'N Ride Terminal located at Gate 4 at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain $7 per car and free for fans with a PIR-issued parking pass. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can "Park N Ride" at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an easy arrival to the track.
"Park 'N Ride" services will be available for 12 hours - from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. - on Sunday, giving all NASCAR fans an alternate transportation option, before and after the race. The first shuttle will depart at 7:30 a.m. The raceway opens to the public at 8 a.m.
Parking Pass Determines Exit
Fans driving their own vehicles to the track should remember that their parking pass - or lack thereof - determines the exits they should take from I-10 to the race. Fans without passes and planning to use the free general parking lots must exit the roadway at either Litchfield Road (Exit 128) or Estrella Parkway (Exit 126) and travel south following directions.
Fans with special passes and permits - and only those fans - should exit at Avondale Boulevard (Exit 131). Motorists who take the wrong routes may face major delays as they approach the track. At all times, motorists should follow the directions of officers and deputies. Guests with facility parking passes may refer to the reverse side of their parking pass for directions to and from the track.
Directions for General Parking Admission - Eastbound:
Take Exit 126 - Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies while traveling east about three miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for General Parking Admission - Westbound:
Take Exit 128 - Litchfield Road or Exit 126 - Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies as, depending on traffic flow, traffic may be diverted for a short time onto MC 85 or Broadway Road. When traffic reaches Vineyard, motorists will travel east for about two miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for Parking Pass Admission - Eastbound and Westbound:
Take Exit 131 - Avondale Boulevard. Drive south approximately six miles to the entrance to the parking lot. Fans taking this exit without a parking permit will be re-routed several miles to the proper roadway.
Directions for Local Traffic - MC 85 (Buckeye Road):
Local fans who travel on MC 85 (Buckeye Road) should exit on Litchfield Road or Bullard Avenue. Fans with special passes and permits - and only those fans - may use Avondale Boulevard.
Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 are available now and start at just $25. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com.(Phoenix International Raceway)(10-31-2011)

Spring Phoenix tickets on sale Tuesday: Beginning Tuesday, November 1 race fans can purchase tickets to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway - NASCAR's second stop of the 2012 season following the Daytona 500. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 weekend - which kicks off PIR's 2012 NASCAR season - will feature a new date of March 2-4. Fans may purchase tickets by calling 866-408 RACE, logging on to PhoenixRaceway.com or visiting the PIR box office at 125 S. Avondale Blvd. in Avondale, Ariz. Value pricing is back - fans can receive extra savings by purchasing tickets for the 2012 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 early. The value pricing period takes place November 1 through December 31, 2011. Regular pricing will begin on Jan. 1 and runs through to the start of the March event weekend. Also making a return is the GO Value Package. GO 2 Days to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 and NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas' Supermarkets 200 races and pay only $40. 2012 Season Tickets are available now and start at only $99. Tickets for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 start at just $25 and tickets for the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 start at only $15.(PIR)(10-29-2011)

Catchpenny to perform National Anthem at Phoenix: Minneapolis-based rock band, Catchpenny, will fire up race fans on Veteran's Day weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500 by performing the Star-Spangled Banner on Sunday, November 13 at Phoenix International Raceway. Catchpenny, a favorite band of American military troops, has played more than 150 concerts in combat zones in support of U.S. military serving overseas. During their seven-year musical span, Catchpenny has toured nationally three times. They have just released their third studio album featuring classic rock musical influences, appropriately titled, "Three", which is now available on iTunes. Their last record, From Where You Are, independently sold over 20,000 copies and their tracks have been used by Arizona Jeans, ESPN X Games, FOX (during World Series), and MTV. Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 start at just $25. Tickets for the WYPALL* 200 on November 12 start at just $15. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(10-27-2011)

Testing at Phoenix Tuesday & Wednesday: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has a two-day test session at Phoenix International Raceway scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 4-5. Teams will be on track from 10 am to 4 pm. In March, construction began on Phoenix’s first track repave since 1990. This test provides the first opportunity for all teams to run on the new surface in preparation for Phoenix’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Nov. 13. Though Phoenix International Raceway remains one mile in length, changes to the banking and configuration have been implemented to promote side-by-side racing. As of today, 37 teams have entered for the test. In addition, three have opted to test fuel injection [no word which teams], as NASCAR and its teams continue to prepare for the introduction of fuel injection for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, comments on the upcoming test at Phoenix: "The test at Phoenix will give teams the opportunity to gather data for everything they need for their chassis and simulation work in preparation for November's Chase race. Not only is Phoenix getting a repaved surface, there is a track configuration change to go along with it. The backstretch will now have a more defined dogleg and the bank angles have changed. It's almost like we'll be looking at a new race track."(NASCAR)(10-3-2011)

NASCAR changes Phoenix schedule; Good year chooses tire: NASCAR has eliminated a scheduled Sprint Cup practice on Thursday of race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 11-13. Sprint Cup teams are scheduled to participate in an open test at Phoenix Oct. 4-5. Those testing sessions were scheduled because the track has been reconfigured and resurfaced since NASCAR's last visit. The Thursday practice apparently was eliminated because of the October testing opportunities. Teams are approaching the Phoenix race as one of the most important in the Chase not only because it is the next-to-last event but also because the new surface will make most notes from previous PIR races virtually obsolete.(SPEED)
AND: Goodyear has selected its tire for Phoenix International Raceway. Stu Grant, Goodyear’s general manager/Worldwide Racing, said that when the Sprint Cup tour returns to PIR for the two-day test, Oct. 4-5, teams will use the same left-side tires as they did at Indianapolis. They also will go with a right side similar to what they used in Indy in terms of construction, compound and mold, but with a little different gauge and tread thickness for heat resistance.(Fox Sports)(9-25-2011)

Avondale city council approves Phoenix expansion: The Avondale City Council is paving the way for Phoenix International Raceway to expand by approving a General Plan amendment and by rezoning the property. In return, PIR, which is nearing completion of a $10 million makeover of its 1-mile oval, will continue improving its facility to become more competitive within the racing industry. The city and PIR officials hope development will provide new employment and more commercial and retail uses that expand the economic impact of the property. They hope that by remaining competitive with other nationwide sporting venues, both PIR and Avondale will gain national marketing exposure during televised events, which in turn will lead to more visitors and revenue. The council's decision on Monday allow the raceway to begin planning and designing more improvements to the existing facility, including the possible construction of new grandstands, media facilities and an enhanced midway for race fans. As part of a longer-term development plan, PIR will study the development of new uses on land now used for parking. The uses could include hotels, restaurants, retail or light industrial that would benefit from being near the track.(Tuscon Citizen)(8-12-2011)

West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame to honor Kevin Harvick: The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame will honor Kevin Harvick for "Outstanding Personal Achievement" on November 10 at the Arizona Biltmore as part of a charitable fundraiser presented by Phoenix International Raceway during the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend in Phoenix. The event, hosted by ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little, will raise funds for the non-profit West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame and other charities. Both Harvick, a Bakersfield, Calif. native, and Little - originally from Las Vegas - have deep ties to racing in the West. Their support of the Phoenix event was a perfect fit as the Hall of Fame looks to grow its presence not only in the West, but throughout NASCAR. Additional NASCAR drivers and personalities with West Coast roots are scheduled to appear at the event alongside Harvick and Little for this very special "Night to Remember." Phoenix International Raceway's first annual "Night to Remember" will be held at the legendary Arizona Biltmore Resort at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. Tickets for the event are $250 each and will provide attendees with the chance to spend an evening with honored NASCAR guests while enjoying food & beverage, as well as an exclusive charity auction.(Phoenix Raceway)(7-22-2011)

Phoenix Fall Tickets on sale: Race fans can purchase tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway – the semi-final playoff race in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup – on May 19 by calling 866-408 RACE, logging on to PhoenixRaceway.com or visiting the PIR box office at 125 S. Avondale Blvd. in Avondale, Ariz. The Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 will anchor a full, four-day weekend of NASCAR action at PIR (November 10-13) and will be the first Sprint Cup Series event on a new, reconfigured and repaved racing surface. In February, PIR President Bryan R. Sperber announced details related to the NASCAR facility’s first major track pavement project since 1990. Construction – including the removal and reuse of the facility’s old racing surface and subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing – began in March and will continue up to September.
“Our goal for the track pavement project was to not radically change a venue that’s celebrated by fans and drivers alike, but to utilize new technology to give us the best opportunity to create not just a new Phoenix International Raceway, but an improved PIR,” Sperber said. “We’re pleased with the progress made on the project thus far and are eager to present the new PIR during NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup in November.”
Race fans can take advantage of PIR’s Value Pricing Period (May 19 to July 4) as soon as tickets to the November Kobalt Tools 500 weekend go on sale this Thursday. Great individual pricing options will be available with Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets starting at just $25 and Wypall 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series tickets (which includes admission to the Phoenix 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on Saturday night) starting at just $15. Add free daily on-site parking with regular tram service, live music entertainment and interactive fun throughout PIR’s Midway and fans experience first-hand the “best value in NASCAR.” Fans seeking a full weekend of NASCAR excitement at Phoenix International Raceway can purchase the Best Value in NASCAR Package for just $40. This inclusive package allows fans to experience three races and Gatorade Pole Qualifying in two days for one low price. For just $179, fans can enhance their race weekend by purchasing a Budweiser ROLL-BAR and Pit Pass Combo Package for the Kobalt Tools 500 race day. This combo includes access to PIR’s pit road, food, beverage and exclusive Q&A opportunities with NASCAR drivers. Tickets to see NASCAR drivers take on the “New PIR” for first time in practice sessions on November 10 and 11 are just $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PhoenixRaceway.com or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(5-19-2011)

Jeff Gordon helps PIR begin track pavement project: #24-Jeff Gordon, winner of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 27, helped get construction started for PIR's upcoming track pavement project after celebrating his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win in 66 races. Gordon made the first cuts into Phoenix International Raceway's surface. Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced details related to the NASCAR facility’s first major track paving project since 1990 earlier this month. Construction will begin in March with the removal of the facility’s current racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing. While maintaining the integrity of PIR’s oval – including the 1-mile distance – the slight configuration changes will produce a racier track with average speeds that are expected to increase two to three miles per hour. The project is slated to conclude in September.(PIR)(3-2-2011)

Phoenix Grandstand seating sold out: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that the last remaining grandstand tickets to Sunday's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 have been sold. Race fans wishing to attend NASCAR's second event of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season may still purchase general admission tickets to PIR's hillside area or infield passes by calling 866-408-RACE or visiting PhoenixRaceway.com. Phoenix track officials have noted an uptick in ticket sales this week following last weekend's Daytona 500 in which newcomer Trevor Bayne captured victory just one day after his 20th birthday - becoming the youngest winner in the event's 53-race history.(PIR)(2-25-2011)

Avondale, AZ to name street after Earnhardt: The City of Avondale will honor one of NASCAR's greatest families by naming a street in the new Avondale City Center Dale Earnhardt Drive. Both NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., have won Sprint Cup Series events on PIR's one-mile oval in Avondale. On Sunday, February 27 at the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500, Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers and Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber will present a replica of the street sign to Earnhardt Jr. in honor of his family's racing achievements and contributions to the sport of NASCAR. Sperber said the honor is especially exciting because the honor is the first of its kind in a Phoenix metropolitan area that exceeds 4 million people.(PIR)(2-25-2011)

Arizona Governor proclaims this week NASCAR Week: Arizona Governor Janice K, Brewer has officially proclaimed the week of February 21-27 “NASCAR Week” in the State of Arizona. A copy of the official proclamation is available upon request. NASCAR Week will culminate on Sunday, Feb. 27 with the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. In an official proclamation from the Office of the Governor, Brewer lauded NASCAR and Phoenix International Raceway’s impact on Arizona’s economy, and recognized PIR as the only facility in the Western United States to host two Sprint Cup Series race weekends annually.
The proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, Phoenix International Raceway is the only NASCAR facility in the Western United States to host two Sprint Cup Series race weekends annually.
WHEREAS, with its two annual NASCAR weekends, PIR generates more than $400 million in economic impact for the State of Arizona; and
WHEREAS, NASCAR has created a motor sports and entertainment haven for residents of Arizona and the Southwestern United States; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of guests will attend each NASCAR event weekend, and millions of television viewers will tune in from across the country to take in views of Arizona’s sun-splashed landscape and dramatic racing action from PIR; and
WHEREAS, legends in the sport of NASCAR have visited Victory Lane at PIR, including Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson; and
WHEREAS, NASCAR puts the spotlight on Arizona for the first West Coast event of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season on February 27th and the semi-final event of NASCAR’s playoffs on November 13th.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janice K Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim the week of February 21-27, 2011 as * NASCAR WEEK *
Tickets to the Feb. 24-27 Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-22-2011)

Emmy Rossum to perform National Anthem at Phoenix: Actress/Singer Emmy Rossum will perform the Star-Spangled Banner prior to the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 27 at Phoenix International Raceway. Rossum said she’s excited for to help fans rev up for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 – the last NASCAR event to be held on a racing surface that’s been in place at PIR since 1990. The track will be repaved and slightly reconfigured following the upcoming race weekend. Rossum has been involved in the performing arts for more than a decade and is no stranger to the NASCAR stage. The multi-talented 23-year old currently stars in the Showtime series, Shameless. The new original series, which is based on a long-running British series of the same title, had its biggest premiere in the history of the network. Rossum’s first album, “Inside Out,” was released in 2007 and featured her own songs and recordings. Tickets to the Feb. 24-27 Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-22-2011)

Apolo Anton Ohno named Grand Marshal at Phoenix: Record-setting short-track speed skater and Season 4 Dancing with the Stars champ Apolo Anton Ohno – a national spokesman for Sunway – has been named Grand Marshal for the upcoming Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Feb. 27. “I am excited to serve as the Grand Marshal of the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 and be a part of such a big event,” said Ohno. “Since I started working with Sunway, I have had the opportunity to be a part of several unique experiences, and having the chance to give the most famous racing command, ‘Gentleman, start your engines,’ is going to be something to remember.” In addition to saying the most famous words in racing, Ohno’s duties as Grand Marshal will include working with PIR officials and Subway to help welcome fans, drivers, and teams to Phoenix for the first West Coast race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The newest famous fan of Sunway, Ohno will compete in his first marathon, the ING New York City Marathon, in November at the urging of renowned Subway commercial star Jared Fogle. Fogle completed the marathon in 2010. Tickets to the Feb. 24-27 Sunway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-22-2011)

Phoenix announces Traffic Patterns: Track officials at Phoenix International Raceway are making preparations to ensure a safe and efficient travel route for the thousands of race fans who will arrive for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend Feb. 24-27. A multi-agency collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa County’s Department of Transportation and Sheriff’s Office, and the cities of Avondale and Goodyear will ease travel for fans as they move through numerous communities and jurisdictions on their way to and from the raceway. During the this month’s event weekend at PIR, “Road Safe” deploys more than 4,000 traffic cones, 600 barricades, approximately 75 people, and numerous special signs and vehicles to help ensure safe travel for the nearly 100,000 fans heading to the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Track officials encourage race fans to plan ahead for the 1 p.m. start time of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race – the busiest event of the weekend. The race will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. with the heaviest outbound flow for the Feb. 27 race expected to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. During this period, motorists traveling on I-10 will experience intermittent closing of Exit 131 (Avondale Boulevard) to allow for the successful egress of race traffic. Phoenix International Raceway encourages motorists – passengers, not drivers – to call 511 and press *7 when prompted for traffic updates.
Park 'N Ride Encouraged After much success in recent years, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are advised to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds. From there, a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will transport patrons to the vicinity of Gate 7 at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain $7 per car. “Park ‘N Ride” services will be available for 12 hours - from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. - on Sunday, giving all NASCAR fans an alternate transportation option, before and after the race. The first shuttle will depart at 7:30 a.m. The raceway opens to the public at 8 a.m. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can park and ride at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an earlier arrival to the facility. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can “Park N Ride” at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an easy arrival to the track.
Parking Pass Determines Exit Fans driving their own vehicles to the track should remember that their parking pass – or lack thereof – determines the exits they should take from I-10 to the race. Fans without passes and planning to use the free general parking lots must exit the roadway at either Litchfield Road (Exit 128) or Estrella Parkway (Exit 126) and travel south following directions. Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – should exit at Avondale Boulevard (Exit 131). Motorists who take the wrong routes may face major delays as they approach the track. At all times, motorists should follow the directions of officers and deputies. Guests with facility parking passes may refer to the reverse side of their parking pass for directions to and from the track.
Directions for General Parking Admission – Eastbound: Take Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies while traveling east about three miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for General Parking Admission – Westbound: Take Exit 128 – Litchfield Road or Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies as, depending on traffic flow, traffic may be diverted for a short time onto MC 85 or Broadway Road. When traffic reaches Vineyard, motorists will travel east for about two miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for Parking Pass Admission – Eastbound and Westbound: Take Exit 131 – Avondale Boulevard. Drive south approximately six miles to the entrance to the parking lot. Fans taking this exit without a parking permit will be re-routed several miles to the proper roadway.
Directions for Local Traffic – MC 85 (Buckeye Road): Local fans who travel on MC 85 (Buckeye Road) should exit on Litchfield Road or Bullard Avenue. Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – may use Avondale Boulevard.
Tickets to the exciting Feb. 24-27 Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-19-2011)

Phoenix to repave add a little more banking: The dogleg - Phoenix International Raceway's signature backstretch bend - soon will have a stronger bite. The tighter and more-challenging turn will be the most-visible change in a $10 million repaving and reconfiguration of PIR. Other modifications - all designed to facilitate more entertaining side-by-side racing - will include a wider front straightaway and a slight variable banking in the corners. Track length will remain 1 mile. The six-month project, expected to be officially announced today, will start soon after the Feb. 27 NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500. It will be the Avondale oval's first major repaving since 1990 and the most-significant overhaul in the track's almost 50-year history. Speeds, according to computer models, will increase by 2-3 mph. Carl Edwards set the PIR Sprint Cup one-lap qualifying record of 136.389 mph last November. Computer modeling has been successfully used to redesign other speedways. Several hundred man-hours of modeling, plus consultation with drivers and NASCAR officials, resulted in:
- Width of the front straightaway will increase 10 feet, to 62 feet. Banking will stay at 3 degrees.
- Pit road will be moved back. Individual pit boxes will be concrete.
- Turns 1 and 2, now banked at 11 degrees, will have variable banking starting at 10 degrees on the bottom up to 11 degrees at the outside wall. Maximum width will be 80 feet, and the turning radius will be opened up from 370 to 400 feet.
- Turns 3 and 4, currently banked nine degrees, will be 50 feet wide. Turn 3 will be banked 8 degrees and Turn 4 variable at 8-9.
Most noticeable, though, will be the dogleg. In recent years, drivers have been able to shortcut the corner, usually running single-file. That section of the track will be pushed out 95 feet from the existing asphalt and be 55 feet wide. The new configuration will have 10- to 11-degree banking at the apex. Significantly, the radius will decrease from 800 to 500 feet. That will affect competition, because drivers will be able to arc more into the corner entry but then must deal with a sharper left turn.(Arizona Republic)(2-9-2011)

Phoenix continues the Park ‘N Ride program: Phoenix International Raceway has announced the operating schedule for its Park ‘N Ride program – encouraging race fans to take advantage of the shuttle service when traveling to and from the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 27. A popular and easy way to avoid race day traffic, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion – located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are advised to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds. From there, a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will transport patrons to the vicinity of Gate 7 at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain $7 per car. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can park and ride at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an easy and earlier arrival to the facility. For more info at tickets, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com.(PIR)(2-8-2011)

Phoenix moves Sprint Cup qualifying to Saturday: Four days of NASCAR action will return to Phoenix International Raceway next month, Feb. 24-27, headlined by the Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Feb. 27. The event schedule, which occurs one week after the Daytona 500, showcases a different NASCAR series race each day: Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series and the K&N Pro Series West. PIR also announced that NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying will move from its previous spot on Friday to 1:40 pm on Saturday, Feb. 26 – prior to the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Race at 3:30 pm. The move will allow more fans to enjoy Sprint Cup time trials. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm/local time [3pm/et] on Sunday, Feb. 27. Spectator gates open at 8:00 am for Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500. More info and tickets to the Feb. 24-27 Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(1-22-2011)

Special 48 hour tickets at PIR to honor Johnson: Phoenix International Raceway will kick off the 2011 NASCAR season by honoring five-time defending Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson – driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevy – with a special #48-themed ticket offer for February’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500. The ‘48-Hour Special’ will offer fans a unique discounted opportunity to take in NASCAR Sprint Cup action at PIR on February 27. Beginning at noon today, January 12, and ending at noon on January 14, race fans can purchase a regularly-priced $90 ticket to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ for just $48. This ticket, located in the Upper AJ Foyt Grandstand, offers a full view of PIR’s one-mile oval and pit road. ‘48-hour Special’ tickets will be available at PhoenixRaceway.com/Jimmie-Johnson or by calling 866-408-RACE beginning at noon Arizona time today, January 12, and ending at noon on January 14.(Phoenix Raceway)(1-12-2011)

Johnson to visit Phoenix for ticket deal: Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson will visit the Valley of the Sun on Jan. 12 to celebrate the start of the 2011 NASCAR season with local fans from Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson - driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevy - will participate in a one-of-a-kind fan event at Casino Arizona's Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale and will help PIR unveil a 48-hour ticket special for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ at PIR on Feb. 27. The '48-hour Special' will offer fans a unique discounted opportunity to take in Sprint Cup action at PIR this February. Beginning at noon on January 12 and ending at noon on January 14, race fans can purchase a regularly-priced $90 ticket to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 for just $48. This ticket, located in the Upper AJ Foyt Grandstand, offers a full view of PIR's one-mile oval and pit road. '48-hour Special' tickets will be available at PhoenixRaceway.com/Jimmie-Johnson at noon on January 12. Tickets to the February 24-27 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ event weekend are available now, with prices starting at just $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://phoenixraceway.com or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(1-8-2011)

Phoenix Tix Sales for 2011 Season: Race fans can expect great sports and entertainment value again at Phoenix International Raceway for the 2011 NASCAR season – kicking off with the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 race weekend Feb. 25-27. PIR remains the only facility in the West with two Sprint Cup Series events and the first and last stop on the West Coast for NASCAR. PIR will host a total of seven races in 2011, including two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races. The same great individual pricing options are still available for both 2011 race weekends with Sprint Cup tickets starting at just $25, Nationwide Series for $15 and Camping World Truck Series for $7. Add free daily on-site parking with regular tram service, live music entertainment and interactive fun throughout PIR’s interactive Midway and fans experience first-hand the “best value in NASCAR.” New to race fans in 2011 is value pricing – fans can receive extra savings by purchasing tickets for the 2011 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 early. The value pricing period takes place now through December 31, 2010. Regular pricing will begin on Jan. 1 and run up to the start of the event weekend. Season tickets will remain at the same low price as last season, with packages starting at $99. By purchasing a season ticket, buyers will receive significant savings over the regular ticket prices along with all the benefits that come with being a season ticket holder; including appreciation events and a dedicated phone line to a PIR Fan Experience Specialist.(Phoenix Raceway)(PIR)(12-2-2010)

PIR to repave? maybe re-confugure? NASCAR drivers almost certainly will find Phoenix International Raceway to be a very different place a year from now. The first repaving of the 1-mile oval since 1993 is considered very likely, with the work to begin soon after February's Subway Fresh Fit 500. But the changes could be dramatic: reconfiguration to include bottom-to-top gradual banking, widening and even opening-up the radius of the turns. Such modifications could make racing more exciting for fans. Directors of International Speedway Corp., PIR's parent company, are expected to green-light the estimated $10 million repaving project at a meeting Wednesday in Miami, The Republic has confirmed. The Avondale City Council also must OK a development agreement with PIR; that's likely to happen by early December. Computer modeling will be used to evaluate how such a reconfiguration would affect competition - no final decisions have been made. The banking currently ranges from 3 to 11 degrees, and in racing terms PIR is considered a "flat" track. The progressive banking design has been popular at other tracks, such as the 1 1/2-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway. "We have put together a request to the board of directors to approve funding to repave after the February race," PIR President Bryan Sperber said. "Track management and ISC have been working on the preliminary plans."(Arizona Republic)(11-14-2010)

New carry-in policy at Phoenix: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced NASCAR fans can look forward to a new carry-in policy beginning with the upcoming Kobalt Tools 500 Weekend Nov. 11-14. The new policy is part of PIR’s ongoing effort to enhance the race day experience for fans by allowing food and non-alcoholic beverages to be brought into the race. Providing a safe and secure environment while maintaining of level of convenience fans have grown have accustomed to is a top priority of Phoenix International Raceway. Fans carrying items onto the property should plan for extra time to allow for a thorough and complete search by security personnel prior to entering the ticket gates. Express lanes will be available for fans that are not carrying items requiring search. In addition, there will be sufficient personnel on hand to ensure guests can proceed through the gate quickly and to their seats in a reasonable amount of time. As part of Phoenix International Raceway’s standard policy for NASCAR events, hard-sided coolers will not be allowed into the grandstand area. In addition, Styrofoam coolers are also not permitted. Key changes to the policy to note:
* Soft-sided coolers that measure no greater than 14 x 14 x 14 inches or 2,700 cubic inches will be permitted – six times the size previously permitted. To ensure these items fit underneath grandstand seats and do not block walkways, coolers with telescoping handles and wheels will not be permitted.
* Lightweight backpacks or daypacks will be permitted
Tickets to the November 11-14 Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR event weekend are still available with prices starting at just $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://phoenixraceway.com or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(11-9-2010)

Traffic Patterns for Phoenix: Track officials with Phoenix International Raceway are making preparations to ensure a safe and efficient travel route for the thousands of race fans who will arrive for the November NASCAR Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend on Nov. 12-14. Phoenix International Raceway will host four races in three days with a doubleheader on Saturday and NASCAR’s semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. A multi-agency collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa County’s Department of Transportation and Sheriff’s Office, and the cities of Avondale and Goodyear will ease travel for fans as they travel through numerous communities and jurisdictions on their way to and from the raceway. During the this month’s event weekend at PIR, “Road Safe” deploys more than 4,000 traffic cones, 600 barricades, approximately 75 people, and numerous special signs and vehicles to help ensure safe travel for the nearly 100,000 fans heading to the Kobalt Tools 500. (Note: A complete listing of equipment is available upon request to the Phoenix International Raceway Communications Department.)
Track officials encourage race fans to plan ahead for the 1:00 pm start time of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race – the busiest event of the weekend. The race will conclude at approximately 5:00 pm with the heaviest outbound flow for the Nov. 14 race expected to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. During this period, motorists traveling on I-10 will experience intermittent closing of Exit 131 (Avondale Boulevard) to allow for the successful egress of race traffic. Phoenix International Raceway encourages motorists – passengers, not drivers – to call 511 and press *7 when prompted for traffic updates. Additionally, fans can check for traffic updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.
Park 'N Ride Encouraged
After much success in recent years, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are welcome to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds, and board a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will be provided to the Gate 7 area at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain at $7 per car.
Parking Pass Determines Exit
Fans driving their own vehicles to the track should remember that their parking pass – or lack thereof – determines the exits they should take from I-10 to the race. Fans without passes and planning to use the free general parking lots must exit the roadway at either Litchfield Road (Exit 128) or Estrella Parkway (Exit 126) and travel south following directions. Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – should exit at Avondale Boulevard (Exit 131). Motorists who take the wrong routes may face major delays as they approach the track. At all times, motorists should follow the directions of officers and deputies.
Directions for General Parking Admission – Eastbound:
Take Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies while traveling east about three miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for General Parking Admission – Westbound:
Take Exit 128 – Litchfield Road or Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies as, depending on traffic flow, traffic may be diverted for a short time onto MC 85 or Broadway Road. When traffic reaches Vineyard, motorists will travel east for about two miles to the entrance to the parking lot.
Directions for Parking Pass Admission – Eastbound and Westbound:
Take Exit 131 – Avondale Boulevard. Drive south approximately six miles to the entrance to the parking lot. Fans taking this exit without a parking permit will be re-routed several miles to the proper roadway.
Directions for Local Traffic – MC 85 (Buckeye Road):
Local fans who travel on MC 85 (Buckeye Road) should exit on Litchfield Road or Bullard Avenue. Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – may use Avondale Boulevard.
Tickets for the November 14 Kobalt Tools 500 – with prices as low as $25 – and all other events throughout the final NASCAR event weekend of 2010 at Phoenix International Raceway are still available at www.phoenixraceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(11-9-2010)

GEICO partners with ISC tracks on camping areas: International Speedway Corporation announced an unprecedented partnership with GEICO Insurance at seven of its premier racing facilities nationwide. Beginning in 2011, the five year deal will provide GEICO with promotional and entitlement rights for camping areas at: Daytona International Speedway; Darlington Raceway; Chicagoland Speedway; Homestead-Miami Speedway; Phoenix International Raceway; Talladega Superspeedway; and Watkins Glen International. Under the terms of the agreement, GEICO will receive on-site signage and branding.(ICS)(11-2-2010)

Phoenix to help fans celebrate Veteran's Day: To help NASCAR fans celebrate Veteran's Day, Phoenix International Raceway will pay tribute to the generations of men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race show beginning at 12:30 pm on Nov. 14. The patriotic festivities will include a special unveiling of the #39 Chevy's new paint scheme by The U.S. Army and Stewart-Haas Racing. Ryan Newman teamed up with Phoenix International Raceway to create a special military ticketing program designed to honor Veteran's Day and provide tickets for military families. The program - titled "Troop Newman" - is part of PIR's Salute to Military Families initiative. The Kobalt Tools 500 pre-race show will feature more than 60,000 American Flags waving in the Grandstands donated by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The spectacular pre-race show will also include: A "Welcome Home" ceremony for 150 guardsmen from the Arizona National Guard; Recognition of Arizona selections for the U.S. Army All American Bowl; A performance by The U.S. Army Band; An aerial entrance to the track by skydivers carrying the American Flag; Display of a 200-foot American Flag by Arizona Project ChalleNGe; National anthem by acclaimed trumpeter Dr. Jesse McGuire; F-16 fly-over by Luke Air Force Base; Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard.(PIR)(11-1-2010)

NASCAR and NASA team up at Phoenix: NASCAR driver Michael McDowell - a product of Glendale, Ariz. - and former NASA astronaut William Gregory will meet fans and answer questions about the thrills and challenges of their respective fields at "Gears and Galaxies" Night on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Challenger Space Center in Peoria. The family-oriented event runs from 4-8 p.m., with Gregory and McDowell hosting a joint Q&A session for ticketed guests from 6-7 p.m. Valley TV and radio motorsports personality Wally Cahill will serve as emcee for the evening. "Gears and Galaxies" also features the unveiling of a new, on-loan NASA exhibit showing a real Space Shuttle tire, a NASCAR tire, and a replica lunar rover tire, along with items flown in space from Mr. Gregory's personal collection. Phoenix International Raceway's Official Pace Car will be on display in the parking lot. Challenger Space Center rounds out the evening with fun family activities including space-themed movies, an Extreme Space Weather demonstration, arts and crafts projects, prize giveaways and more. Among the prizes is a pair of reserved grandstand seats for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on Feb. 27, 2011, including two pre-race pit passes, courtesy of Phoenix International Raceway. Tickets for "Gears and Galaxies" are available on a first-come, first-served basis at http://www.azchallenger.org/public.nasa.nascar.htm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and include admission to the Q&A session and an autographed photo from both the astronaut and the race car driver. As part of the event, Challenger also has a special ticketing option for NASCAR events at Phoenix International Raceway as part of the Nov. 11-14 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. To purchase tickets, contact Jonathan Stone at 623-463-5672.(PIR)(10-30-2010)

Phoenix offers Park 'N Ride for Cup race: Phoenix International Raceway has announced its operating schedule for its Park 'N Ride program - encouraging race fans to take advantage of the shuttle service when traveling to and from the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race on Sunday, Nov. 14. After much success in recent years, the Park 'N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are welcome to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds, and board a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will be provided to the Gate 7 area at the track. Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain at $7 per car. With the green flag dropping on the Kobalt Tools 500 at 1 p.m., "Park 'N Ride" services will be available for 12 hours - from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. - on Nov. 14, providing NASCAR fans with an alternate transportation option, before and after the race. The first shuttle will depart at 7:30 a.m. The raceway opens to the public at 8 a.m. Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can park and ride at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an earlier arrival to the facility.(PIR)(10-28-2010)

Phoenix announces 2011 race dates: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that the track has been awarded two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends in 2011, marking seven consecutive seasons for PIR to host a pair of nationally-televised event weekends featuring the brightest stars in NASCAR. Phoenix will maintain two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends in the face of widespread schedule realignment that saw multiple race dates moved amongst multiple facilities. As part of the NASCAR's schedule realignment, Phoenix International Raceway's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will move from April to February 27 - just one week after NASCAR's largest event, the Daytona 500. PIR will look to capitalize on the season-opening excitement of Daytona with a new Sunday day-race format, allowing fans to take in the 500 km race in Phoenix with a more traditional local start time of 1 p.m. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will be televised nationally on FOX. Phoenix will continue to host the semi-final race in NASCAR's playoffs - the Chase for the Sprint Cup - on November 13. The Kobalt Tools 500, a race in which fans have come to expect heavy championship implications, also starts at 1 p.m. locally and will be televised nationally on ESPN. NASCAR will conclude its season the following week at Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida.(PIR)(8-10-2010)

Fall Phoenix Race to be Kobalt Tools 500: Phoenix International Raceway announced that Lowe's and Kobalt Tools have joined the track's team of corporate partners. As part of this new relationship, Kobalt will act as the official title sponsor for the track's November 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event: The Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Although this is Lowe's first time sponsoring a Phoenix race, it has been supporting the Phoenix community for years. Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) have given more than $2 million in donations to education and community improvement projects in Arizona. Most recently, the LCEF gave a $50,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix to renovate its teen center.(PIR)(4-10-2010)

Arizona Governor named Honorary Pace Car Driver: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has been selected as the Honorary Pace Car Driver and will lead the 43-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field to the green flag to begin the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10. As the Honorary Pace Car Driver, Brewer will be a part of pre-race ceremonies, including driver introductions at the start/finish line. Once the starting command has been given, Brewer will lead the Sprint Cup field onto PIR's 1-mile oval for pace laps prior to the start of the Subway Fresh Fit 600. Brewer officially accepted the position and a ceremonial key to the Arizona flag-branded Chevy Camaro from four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon in a ceremony at the State Capitol on March 1. Tickets for the April 10 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 and all other events throughout the first NASCAR event weekend of 2010 at Phoenix International Raceway are still available at www.phoenixraceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(4-8-2010)

CRAVE potato chips debuting at Phoenix: CRAVE Potato Chips, the official potato chip of Phoenix International Raceway, will make its debut April 8-10 at the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 NASCAR event weekend. The new line of potato chips is the creation of former All-Pro linebacker and Arizona Cardinals player Jamir Miller, now CEO and Founder of Sack Time Snacks, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Ariz. CRAVE Chips will be available for race fans to sample on race weekend at PIR before hitting supermarkets.(PIR)(4-7-2010)

Laila Ali named Grand Marshal for Subway Fresh Fit 600: Undefeated professional boxer, entertainer, and Subway national spokesperson Laila Ali has been named the Grand Marshal for the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10. Ali is a spokesperson for the Subway Fresh Fit for Kids campaign. The movement is designed to encourage children to lead an active, healthy lifestyle by getting the proper amount of exercise and fueling them with healthier Subway meal options. The daughter of all-time boxing great Muhammad Ali will work in conjunction with Sperber in welcoming fans, drivers, and teams to Phoenix for the first official night race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. In addition, Ali will say the most famous words in racing, giving the command of: "Gentlemen, start your engines!" As one of the era's most recognized female fighters and a past IBA, WIBA, and IBWF Super Middleweight champion, Ali holds a career record of 24-0, with 21 wins by knockout – a stretch of unmatched ring success dating back to 1999. Tickets for the April NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are available now by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or visiting www.phoenixraceway.com.(PIR)(4-6-2010)

Tickets Remain for SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600: The thrill of NASCAR action at Phoenix International Raceway is just two weeks away, and tickets are available for each night of racing in the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 event weekend. Seats remain for grandstand areas and can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For added convenience, the Phoenix International Raceway Ticket Office will be open seven days a week leading up to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ event weekend, giving race fans more time to buy tickets in person in the days before the green flag. The PIR Ticket Office will open for special hours on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28, and again on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4 (Easter Sunday), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Additionally, the PIR Ticket Office will remain open on Good Friday – Friday, April 2 – for normal business hours. Normal weekday ticket office hours leading up to the event are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for 2010 at Phoenix International Raceway can also be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(Phoenix International Raceway)(3-28-2010)

Phoenix spring race to be longer UPDATE: The Sprint Cup event on April 10 at Phoenix International Raceway will go an additional 63 laps and miles on the one-mile oval, up from 312, The new distance will be 375 laps/miles, the longest race since PIR began hosting NASCAR in 1988. PIR measures its Cup races in kilometers, so it will be just over 603 kilometers, up from the previous 500 km. Official announcement of what will now be known as the Subway Fresh Fit 600 is expected this week. Ticket prices, which start at $25, will not increase. PIR's move is a direct result of NASCAR's switch to earlier starting times this season, reacting to a suggestion made by its national fan council and an attempt to boost TV ratings. PIR's green flag is scheduled for 4:30 pm/local, one hour earlier than last year. About two-thirds of what typically was a three-hour event ran at night, which was popular with spectators. That ratio would have been reversed without adding laps since sunset occurs just before 7:00 pm. PIR remains the first official night race on the Cup schedule. PIR's second NASCAR race, the Nov. 14 Chase for the Sprint Cup semifinal, will remain 500 kilometers but have a new title sponsor.(Arizona Republic), Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts was sthe sponsor of the fall race in 2009 and for years before.(1-12-2010)
UPDATE: It will be a whole new race on April 10 when NASCAR visits Phoenix International Raceway for the first evening event of the season – new distance, new pit-stop schedules, new fuel cycles, and a new name. The brand new SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 will be the longest Sprint Cup event in track history, featuring 63 more laps (100k) of high-octane action at the same affordable cost that NASCAR fans have come to enjoy in the Valley of the Sun. The addition of 63 laps ensures that PIR's April race maintains its spot as the first official night race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season again in 2010. For consistency, NASCAR moved to standard race start times in 2010 and PIR's extra laps will make certain that the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 – which starts at 4:30 p.m. locally – will run well into the night under the desert sky. As mentioned, the 375-lap April 10 race under bright Saturday night lights will be the longest scheduled Sprint Cup event in track history, as each of Phoenix International Raceway's 27 Sprint Cup races dating back to 1988 were originally slated for 500k (312 laps) from green flag to checkered flag. PIR's November NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will maintain its distance of 312 laps – approximately 500 kilometers. To help celebrate this exciting new development in Phoenix International Raceway's rich NASCAR history, fans will have the opportunity to turn the first 600 laps of the new season at PIR on Saturday, March 27 – just five short weeks before the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600. How to participate? Just be one of the first 100 people to call 1-866-408-RACE (7223) and purchase a grandstand ticket to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600 using the code-phrase "600 Under the Lights" and you can be one of 100 lucky fans to drive six laps on PIR's one-mile oval. Fans that call in after the first 100, as well as those who have already purchased their tickets, will also have the opportunity to drive the track at PIR. For more details, please visit www.phoenixraceway.com/600underthelights. Tickets for the April 10 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ – with prices as low as $25 – and all other events throughout the first NASCAR event weekend of 2010 at Phoenix International Raceway are still available at www.phoenixraceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(1-13-2010)

WWE Hall of Famer named Honorary Race Official at PIR: Sgt. Slaughter, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) legend and the former United States Marine who earned his famous ring name during service to his country, has been named an Honorary Race Official for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway. The WWE Hall of Famer will attend the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 as part of a promotional partnership between Phoenix International Raceway and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for WrestleMania XXVI, which will be held in Arizona in March 2010. Sgt. Slaughter will appear on the pre-race ceremonies stage with PIR President Bryan R. Sperber to welcome NASCAR fans, drivers, and teams to the Valley of the Sun for the Semi-Final Showdown in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In addition to his time on the pre-race stage, Slaughter will act as the honorary pace car driver before Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series Able Body Labor 200. Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(11-13-2009)

Tyrese Gibson to perform national anthem at PIR Cup race: Actor, model, and R&B star Tyrese Gibson will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 15. Tyrese will replace Brian McKnight, who was previously scheduled for the performance, but had a last-minute scheduling conflict. In 1994, Tyrese Gibson's star was born when he was featured in a memorable Coca-Cola commercial. Riding the heat of the commercial, Tyrese landed guest appearances on the hit TV shows "Martin" and "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and became the face of Tommy Hilfiger at the age of 17. He signed a record deal with RCA Records and completed his first self-titled debut album in 1998, which featured the smash hit "Sweet Lady." His platinum-selling debut earned him a Grammy nomination and the American Music Award for "Best New Artist." Over the summer, Tyrese starred in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which brought back all of the key elements from the first film, including director Michael Bay and producer Steven Spielberg. In 2010, Tyrese can be seen in "Legion," a Sony Screen Gems horror film co-starring Dennis Quaid. For tickets to the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway – with prices as low as $25 for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 – can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(11-11-2009)

Sen. McCain named Grand Marshal at Phoenix: Arizona Senator John McCain will act as the Grand Marshal for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 15. The role will mark a return to Phoenix International Raceway for the Grand Canyon State's senior senator, who also appeared as Grand Marshal before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the track in April 2006. As Grand Marshal, McCain will appear on the pre-race ceremonies stage with Phoenix International Raceway president Bryan R. Sperber to welcome NASCAR fans, drivers, and teams to the Valley of the Sun for the Semi-Final Showdown in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Following driver introductions, McCain will deliver the familiar "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!" command to the 43 starters in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field. Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway - with prices as low as $25 - can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(Phoenix Raceway PR)(10-30-3009)

Seats remain for Phoenix Sprint Cup race: The thrill of NASCAR action at Phoenix International Raceway is just three weeks away, and tickets are available for each night of racing in the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil event weekend. Great seats remain for select grandstand areas and can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For added convenience, the Phoenix International Raceway Ticket Office will be open seven days a week leading up to the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil event weekend, giving race fans more time to buy tickets in person in the days before the green flag. The PIR Ticket Office will open for special hours on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, and again on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Normal weekday ticket office hours in the weeks leading up to the event are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.(Phoenix International Raceway)(10-24-2009)

Phoenix teams with Richard Petty to create kart track: Phoenix International Raceway has teamed up with the legendary Richard Petty on a joint venture to create the first-ever high performance kart track within a NASCAR facility. This experiential innovation will put race fans behind the wheel and into the action at the brand new Richard Petty Raceway - located on PIR's Midway - beginning this November for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend. The 1/16th-mile Richard Petty Raceway will be located just inside Gate 4 at PIR, providing fans the chance to test their racing mettle for just $20 a session. The permanent one-of-a-kind venue will allow first-hand entertainment for fans 16 and older. The raceway's structure will include a pit and garage area, as well as grandstand seating where each driver's "fans" can gather and show support - just as they would for the Chase for the Sprint Cup competitors on PIR's one-mile oval. Each race at Richard Petty Raceway can include five competitors. At 20 feet wide and featuring a flagman's tower, tire barriers, and a layout quite similar to that of the main Phoenix International Raceway oval, Richard Petty Raceway is designed to give NASCAR fans yet another exciting racing surface - with the added thrill of participation in 9hp high-performance karts, provided by Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE). Competitors will put on firesuits and helmets and receive detailed instruction from RPDE professionals prior to racing.(PIR PR)(9-29-2009)

Texas and Phoenix swap Spring race dates:Texas Motor Speedway will have a slight shift in its 2010 NASCAR schedule as the Samsung 500 race week will be run April 15-18, moving the Sprint Cup Series race from the seventh to the eighth event of the season as a result of a date swap with Phoenix International Raceway.TMS officials agreed to the move to accommodate NASCAR and network television partner, FOX, because the Samsung 500 on its traditional April date would have been pitted directly against the final round of the The Masters on television. Phoenix transitions into that slot without a conflict since it will play host to a Saturday evening race.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(8-27-2009)