NASCAR confirmed that a change to the Phoenix Raceway dogleg is upcoming, as officials will soften the transition ahead of the spring weekend for the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series between March 12 and 14. The NTT IndyCar Series will also compete at the 1-mile oval on Saturday, March 13.
There was discussion about adding turf to the dogleg portion of the track, but NASCAR wants drivers to retain the ability to use that section, which can produce chaotic restarts. However, mouthpiece data revealed record loads in that area, raising concerns among officials about the g-forces drivers experience when transitioning from the banking to the apron.
#NASCAR confirms that they will “soften” the transition from the racetrack to the dogleg @phoenixraceway ahead of the spring event in 2027.
#NASCAR wants drivers to keep using that area of the track, but after industry feedback, they want it to be smooth when entering and exiting so it isn’t as vicious as the data has shown for the drivers and vehicles.
Work will begin around the start-finish line and continue throughout that section.
— Chris Knight (@Knighter01) November 6, 2026
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