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. They really loved coming to Phoenix, where the tourism industry was just starting to grow and its Western-style hospitality was second to none.

It wasn't until 1988, however, when NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing came to PIR, that auto racing in Phoenix really became a major sporting attraction for the "Valley of the Sun." New racing legends and legends-in-the-making like Davey Allison, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars found out firsthand what their open-wheel brethren had known for years: Phoenix International Raceway is truly a great place for racing, for drivers and fans alike.

Today, Phoenix International Raceway has a tradition that is unmatched in the world of racing. Armed with a rich history of many forms of racing, PIR now counts its two NASCAR weekends as hallmark events. The annual fall NASCAR weekend -- now in its 21st year and including races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and USAC -- is one of the biggest events in the entire state. In 2005, PIR added a second race weekend -- in April -- to its schedule, and fans have come to enjoy NASCAR's spring visit to the desert just the same.

As the fifth-largest city in America, Phoenix and the surrounding area offers all the food, lodging, and recreation/entertainment options one would expect from a town that thrives on tourism. Phoenix is world-famous for golf, tennis, shopping, and lots of sunshine -- not to mention the most celebrated and storied racetrack in the West.

Track Information

Track address: 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale, AZ 85323

Track length: 1 mile
Degree of banking: 11 degrees in turns 1-2; 9 degrees in turns 3-4
Degree of banking on straightaways: 3 degrees on frontstretch; 9 degrees on backstretch
Length of frontstretch: 1,179 feet
Length of backstretch: 1,551 feet

Track Qualifying Records

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Ryan Newman, No. 12 Alltel Dodge, 26.499 seconds, 135.854 mph
November 2004

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Kyle Busch, No. 5 Lowe's/Gladiator Chevrolet, 26.902 seconds, 133.819 mph
November 2004

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Johnny Benson, No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota, 27.137 seconds, 132.660 mph
November 2006

NASCAR Camping World Series
Steve Portenga, Chevrolet, 27.822 seconds, 129.394 mph
March 2000

All-time NASCAR winners at Phoenix International Raceway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Date	Race	Winner
November 6, 1988	Checker 500	Alan Kulwicki
November 5, 1989	Autoworks 500	Bill Elliott
November 4, 1990	Checker 500	Dale Earnhardt
November 3, 1991	Pyroil 500	Davey Allison
November 1, 1992	Pyroil 500	Davey Allison
October 31, 1993	Slick 50 500	Mark Martin
October 30, 1994	Slick 50 500	Terry Labonte
October 29, 1995	Dura Lube 500	Ricky Rudd
October 27, 1996	Dura Lube 500	Bobby Hamilton
November 2, 1997	Dura Lube 500	Dale Jarrett
October 25, 1998	Dura Lube/Kmart 500	Rusty Wallace
November 7, 1999	Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500	Tony Stewart
November 5, 2000	Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500	Jeff Burton
October 28, 2001	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil	Jeff Burton
November 10, 2002	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil	Matt Kenseth
November 2, 2003	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Havoline	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
November 7, 2004	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Havoline	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
April 23, 2005	SUBWAY Fresh 500™	Kurt Busch
November 13, 2005	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Havoline	Kyle Busch
April 22, 2006	SUBWAY Fresh 500™	Kevin Harvick
November 12, 2006	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil	Kevin Harvick
April 21, 2007	SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™	Jeff Gordon
November 11, 2007	Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil	Jimmie Johnson
April 12, 2008	SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™	Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Nationwide Series

Date	Race	Winner
November 6, 1999	Outback Steakhouse 200	Jeff Gordon
November 4, 2000	Outback Steakhouse 200	Jeff Burton
October 27, 2001	Outback Steakhouse 200	Greg Biffle
November 9, 2002	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Scott Wimmer
November 1, 2003	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Bobby Hamilton Jr.
November 6, 2004	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Jamie McMurray
April 22, 2005	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Greg Biffle
November 12, 2005	Arizona 200 Presented by Walk The Line	Carl Edwards
April 21, 2006	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Kevin Harvick
November 11, 2006	ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200	Matt Kenseth
April 20, 2007	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Clint Bowyer
November 10, 2007	ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200	Kyle Busch
April 11, 2008	Bashas' Supermarkets 200	Kyle Busch

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Date	Race	Winner
February 5, 1995	Skoal Bandit Racing Copper World Classic	Mike Skinner
October 28, 1995	GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300	Mike Skinner
April 21, 1996	Chevrolet Desert Star Classic	Jack Sprague
October 26, 1996	GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300	Jack Sprague
April 20, 1997	Chevy Trucks Desert Star Classic	Jack Sprague
November 1, 1997	GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300	Joe Ruttman
April 19, 1998	Chevy Trucks 150	Ron Hornaday Jr.
October 24, 1998	GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300	Mike Bliss
March 27, 1999	Chevy Trucks NASCAR 150	Ron Hornaday Jr.
March 18, 2000	Chevy Trucks NASCAR 150	Joe Ruttman
October 26, 2001	Chevy Silverado 150	Greg Biffle
November 8, 2002	Chevy Silverado 150	Kevin Harvick
October 31, 2003	Chevy Silverado 150	Kevin Harvick
November 5, 2004	Chevy Silverado 150	David Starr
November 11, 2005	Chevy Silverado 150	Todd Bodine
November 10, 2006	Casino Arizona 150	Johnny Benson
November 9, 2007	Casino Arizona 150	Kyle Busch