Phoenix International Raceway

Phoenix International Raceway Logo
Location	Avondale, Arizona
Capacity	76,800
Owner	International Speedway Corporation
Address	7602 S. Avondale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates the population of the city is 75403 The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. International Speedway Corporation ( ISC) is a Corporation whose primary business is the ownership and management of NASCAR race tracks Avondale Blvd. , Avondale, AZ 85323
Major Events	NASCAR Sprint Cup Series NASCAR Nationwide Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
"D"-shaped Tri-Oval
Surface	Asphalt
Circuit Length	1 mi (1. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a Stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States 6 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Turns 1 and 2 - 11° Turns 3 and 4 - 9° Backstretch - 9° Frontstretch - 3°
Road Course
Surface	Asphalt
Circuit Length	1. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 51 mi (2. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States 43 km)
Turns	13

Phoenix International Raceway, or just PIR, is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A Tri-oval is a shape which derives its name from the two other shapes it most resembles a Triangle and an oval. Avondale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates the population of the city is 75403 It opened in 1964, as the new home of major open-wheel racing in the Phoenix area, replacing the track at the Arizona State Fairgrounds as an automobile racing venue. The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix Arizona, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair

History

Due to a change in focus by the track's current owners, ISC, the Phoenix area's long history of hosting Indy-style racing (only Indianapolis itself and Milwaukee have had more) came to an abrupt end in 2005, when PIR failed to host an Indy Racing League event for the first time. International Speedway Corporation ( ISC) is a Corporation whose primary business is the ownership and management of NASCAR race tracks The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based Open-wheel racing series. Ironically, stock car racing's top series, NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, didn't even run at PIR until 1988. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Their inaugural race was won by the late Alan Kulwicki, who debuted his Polish Victory Lap here after taking the checkered flag. Alan Dennis Kulwicki (December 14 1954 &ndash April 1 1993 nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince" was an American NASCAR Winston Cup A victory lap (also lap of honor) is a term used in Motorsports to describe an extra Lap of the Race track after the conclusion of a

PIR has a unique tri-oval shape, with a curve in middle of its backstretch between turns two and three, commonly referred to as "the dogleg". This exists because the original builders were constrained by both the rocky hills located on the property and their incorporation of an external road course and dragstrip into PIR's design. Once nearby Firebird International Raceway became a regular stop on drag racing tours, PIR's dragstrip was rarely used. The external road course, which was used mainly for private testing and as parking lot access roads during oval events, was later replaced by the current infield road circuit. Prior to construction of a tunnel under turn four in 2002-03, the only access to the PIR's infield during events was via crossovers, where the old external road course and dragstrip intersected the oval. A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon Once the tunnel was built, the crossovers were permanently sealed off.

The other notable feature of PIR is the presence of the "Hillside", a fan-favorite viewing area located on "Monument Hill" just outside of turn four. At the top of this hill lies a USGS bench marker known as Gila and Salt River Meridian that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. This article is about the use of bench marks in surveying for other uses see Bench mark. The Gila and Salt River Meridian intersects the base line on the south side of Gila River, opposite the mouth of Salt River, in latitude 33° 22' 40" north longitude The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Long before PIR existed, this spot was the original land survey point for all of what later became the state of Arizona. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The original surveyors chose this location to begin their work because it is the nearest high ground from the confluence of the Salt River and the Gila River, and offered a great view after only a gentle climb. The Salt River ( O'odham [Pima]: Onk Akimel) is a Tributary of the Gila River, approximately 322 km (200 mi long in central Arizona The Gila /'hilə/ River ( O'odham [Pima]: Gila Akimel) is a Tributary of the Colorado River, 650 Miles (1044 Kilometers

PIR infield, taken in Nov. 2004

The present-day Avondale Boulevard (formerly known as 115th Avenue) marks the north-south meridian of that original survey, while the aptly-named Baseline Road runs east-west along the surveyors' baseline. This article is about the geographical concept For other uses of the word see Meridian. In the United States Public Land Survey System, a baseline is the principal east-west line that divides Survey townships between north and south The survey benchmark also denotes the western boundary of the Gila River Indian Community. This article is about the use of bench marks in surveying for other uses see Bench mark. The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in Arizona, USA, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within In PIR's earlier years, residents of this neighboring Native American community were rumored to have sometimes sold concessions through the fence to hungry race fans unwilling to walk back down to the track's food and beverage stands.

Until 2005, PIR's oval annually hosted at least one major Indy-style racing event, dating back to its initial construction. It is still used year-round by various Indy Racing League teams for private testing as well as for the filming of television commercials featuring that series' cars. The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based Open-wheel racing series.

The infield road course, originally built for IMSA was most recently used by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The International Motor Sports Association (generally referred to as IMSA) is an American Auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton Georgia The Grand American Road Racing Association or Grand-Am is an Auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize Road racing competitions

Fans waiting for a race at PIR

Pressbox in 1989

Frontstretch

Turn 4

Grandstands in 1989

The oval also remains home to what was traditionally called the Copper World Classic, a weekend of predominantly open-wheel competition with USAC midget and Silver Crown cars as well as modifieds. The United States Automobile Club (USAC is an Open-wheel Auto racing sanctioning body Midget cars are very small Race cars with a very high Power-to-weight ratios and typically using Four-cylinder engines Despite their name they are fully From 2002-04, the event was incorporated into early-spring the Indy Car Series / Indy Pro Series weekend, but with the departure of IRL, the Copper World event has returned to its original late-winter date on PIR's racing schedule. The IndyCar Series is the premier series of the Indy Racing League. Firestone Indy Lights is a developmental racing series sanctioned by the Indy Racing League.

In 2005, the track hosted a second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race event, replacing the spring race formerly held at Darlington Raceway, in South Carolina. Darlington Raceway is a Race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington South Carolina. South Carolina ( is a state in the southern region ( Deep South) of the United States of America. The track currently hosts the annual Subway Fresh Fit 500, considered one of NASCAR's top annual races. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale Arizona The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. ^[1]

In a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, 12 percent of NASCAR drivers voted PIR as their favorite track. Sports Illustrated is an American Sports Magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. That was enough for a second place tie with Atlanta Motor Speedway. Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is an Intermediate track in Hampton Georgia, twenty miles (32 km south of ^[2] David Reutimann said he "loves that place. David Reutimann (born March 2, 1970, in Zephyrhills FL) is a NASCAR driver It's just a weird-shaped racetrack, and I grew up racing on stuff that was odd-shaped. I think I like it because it's not the normal track. It's flat and fast. "

Scenes from the movie Taxi were filmed at the track. Taxi is a 2004 American Remake of the 1998 Luc Besson -penned Gérard Pirès directed French film

Previous Events

• USAC - Phoenix 150
• Indy Lights - Phoenix 75
• CART - Slick-50 200
• IRL - XM Satellite Radio Indy 200
• Rolex Sports Car Series - The GAINSCO Grand Prix

Current Events

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Subway Fresh Fit 500
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Checker Auto Parts 500
• NASCAR Nationwide Series - Bashas' Supermarkets 200
• NASCAR Nationwide Series - Arizona.Travel 200
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - Phoenix 150

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Stats

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Records

(As of 104/13/08)

• Most Wins - (2) -Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick, Davey Allison, Jimmie Johnson
• Most Top 5's - (9) -Mark Martin
• Most Top 10's - (15) -Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin
• Starts - (23) - Mark Martin
• Poles - (4) - Ryan Newman
• Laps Led - (868) - Rusty Wallace
• Avg Start (Minimum 5 starts) - (8. The United States Automobile Club (USAC is an Open-wheel Auto racing sanctioning body Professional open wheel racing in Phoenix Arizona has happened in three venues the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix International Raceway and in downtown Phoenix Firestone Indy Lights is a developmental racing series sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Professional open wheel racing in Phoenix Arizona has happened in three venues the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix International Raceway and in downtown Phoenix Champ Car, was the name for a class and specification of cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades primarily for use in the Indianapolis Professional open wheel racing in Phoenix Arizona has happened in three venues the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix International Raceway and in downtown Phoenix The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based Open-wheel racing series. Professional open wheel racing in Phoenix Arizona has happened in three venues the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix International Raceway and in downtown Phoenix The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premiere series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale Arizona The Checker Auto Parts 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a Stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. The Bashas' Supermarkets 200 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale Arizona. Jeffrey Brian Burton (born June 29, 1967 in South Boston Virginia) also sometimes referred to as "JB" is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ralph Dale Kevin Michael Harvick (born December 8, 1975 in Bakersfield California) is an American race car driver and car owner competing in the David Carl "Davey" Allison ( February 25, 1961 - July 13, 1993) was a NASCAR Race car Driver, best Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Mark Martin may refer to Mark Martin (racecar driver (b 1959 American racecar driver Mark Martin (cartoonist, American cartoonist Jeffery Michael Gordon Mark Martin may refer to Mark Martin (racecar driver (b 1959 American racecar driver Mark Martin (cartoonist, American cartoonist Mark Martin may refer to Mark Martin (racecar driver (b 1959 American racecar driver Mark Martin (cartoonist, American cartoonist Ryan Joseph Newman (born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana) is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956) is a former NASCAR champion NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner and television 1) - Rusty Wallace
• Avg Finish (Minimum 5 starts) - (5. Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956) is a former NASCAR champion NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner and television 2) - Alan Kulwicki

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Winners

• (*)Rain Shortened Event
• (**)Race Extended Due to Green-White-Checker Finish

Track Records

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying: Ryan Newman, 26. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Ryan Joseph Newman (born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana) is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 499 sec. (135. 854 mph), 2004
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race: Tony Stewart, 2 hrs. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971 in Columbus Indiana) is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur in NASCAR 's 38 min. 28 sec. (118. 132 mph), 1999
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying: Kyle Busch, 26. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a Stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. Kyle Thomas Busch (born May 2, 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada) nicknamed "Rowdy Busch" "Wild Thing" or "Shrub" 902 sec. (133. 819 mph), 2004
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Race: Jeff Burton, 1 hr. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a Stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. Jeffrey Brian Burton (born June 29, 1967 in South Boston Virginia) also sometimes referred to as "JB" is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 44 min. 13 sec. (115. 145 mph), 2000
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying: Johnny Benson, 27. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Jonathan Benson Jr (born June 27, 1963 in Grand Rapids Michigan) is a NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson 137 sec. (132. 660 mph), 2006
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race: Kevin Harvick, 1 hr. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Kevin Michael Harvick (born December 8, 1975 in Bakersfield California) is an American race car driver and car owner competing in the 24 min. 26 sec. (108. 104 mph), 2002

References

External links

• Phoenix International Raceway Official Site
• Phoenix International Raceway Page on NASCAR.com
• Trackpedia guide to driving this track
• High Resolution image from Google Maps
• Phoenix International Raceway is at coordinates 33°22′29″N 112°18′40″W / 33.37475, -112.31115 (Phoenix International Raceway)Coordinates: 33°22′29″N 112°18′40″W / 33.37475, -112.31115 (Phoenix International Raceway)
• NASCAR's Best Races

See also

List of NASCAR race tracks