Championship Focus at PIR – Historic fourth titles for Johnson and Hornaday on the line; Busch seeking first!

As the numbers have it, the spotlight of NASCAR championship glory could shine down on Phoenix International Raceway not once, not twice, but three times over the November 12-15 Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 event weekend.

With just a 73-point lead on his closest pursuer (Mark Martin) in the Sprint Cup Series, Jimmie Johnson is not as comfortable as he’d like to be heading into PIR this weekend. However, with three Phoenix wins since 2004 – Johnson seems primed to continue his quest for a record fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship at the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil.

To officially clinch the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship at Phoenix International Raceway, Johnson would need to exit the one-mile oval with a 196-point lead over second place. If Johnson leaves PIR with at least a 162-point lead, he would need to simply start the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to earn the title.

In a NASCAR teleconference this week, Johnson spoke to his past successes on the remaining tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule.

“I would say that looking at the schedule, the best track remaining for us would be PIR,” he said.

Johnson mentioned that the inclusion of the new double-file restart rule on the narrow oval could easily play to the advantage of his entry from Hendrick Motorsports, which has fielded the last five Sprint Cup Series winners in Phoenix.

“I feel very strong about the performance Hendrick Motorsports will have (at Phoenix),” Johnson said. “I just hope it’s the 48 car on top of the heap.  But the double file restarts will be interesting.  The bottom will probably be the preferred line.  I think in Turns 1 and 2 the outside will do a really good job of hanging on and can maintain down the backstretch.  But in most cases, the bottom of 3 and 4 is the preferred line, and we’ll probably end up prevailing through the length of the race.”

A clinched championship for Johnson at Phoenix would be the third in the track’s 22-year Sprint Cup Series history, and the first in the Chase for the Sprint Cup era. In 1991, Dale Earnhardt left the Checker 500 with a 156-point lead – with 151 the maximum single-race gain – over Davey Allison to clinch his fifth of seven Cup Series championships. In 1998, Jeff Gordon’s 329-point advantage over Mark Martin coming out of Phoenix gave him a mathematical clinch of his third series championship with two races remaining.

Johnson will not be the only driver, however, searching for a fourth series championship at Phoenix International Raceway next weekend. Ron Hornaday currently holds a 202-point lead over Matt Crafton in Camping World Truck Series competition, and like Johnson is in search of adding to his collection of three series championships. A fourth title for Hornaday would be a Camping World Truck Series record, untying Hornaday’s current tie with Jack Sprague.

Hornaday must leave the Lucas Oil 150 at PIR with a lead of 141 points over second place. By contrast, the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet would require a 282-point advantage following this weekend’s event in Texas – an increase of 80 points – to clinch the championship before arriving in Phoenix.

Kyle Busch’s current lead of 215 points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series leaves him in prime position to clinch his first national championship at PIR, as he requires a 162-point advantage following the Able Body Labor 200 to clinch the title ahead of the season finale. Like Johnson, Busch would need to lead the Nationwide Series point standings by 324 points after this weekend’s event at Texas, meaning he would have to add 109 points to his current lead over the course of just a single race.

On a final note, being a HUGE Jeff Gordon fan – here’s to Jimmie finding some bad luck again, and allowing the 24 to make it a three dog race heading into Homestead.

Let’s go JG!

Great Seats Remain for Upcoming Races at PIR!

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, Able Body Labor 200, and Lucas Oil 150 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.

The PIR Ticket Office is located in Avondale at 125 S. Avondale Boulevard, just south of I-10 at Exit 131.

Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). Follow Phoenix International Raceway 365 days a year on the Web at PhoenixRaceway.com and on Twitter at twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway, and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway. Be a part of it all at PIR!

Sgt. Slaughter Named Honorary Official for PIR’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500!

Sgt. Slaughter, World Wrestling Entertainment 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 on Sunday, November 15.

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. One of the WWE’s most beloved Superstars of the mid-1980s and current WWE Ambassador, 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.

“I plan to take my duties as Honorary Race Official as serious as I did service to my country,” said Sgt. Slaughter. “I can’t wait to jump in the pace car. I pledge to do my best to make sure that everyone attending the weekend of events has a great time at the beautiful Phoenix International Raceway.”

In addition to his time on the pre-race stage, Slaughter will make multiple appearances for fans in Phoenix International Raceway hospitality clubs throughout the weekend, and will act as the honorary pace car driver before Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Able Body Labor 200.

With one of the most instantly recognizable monikers of any WWE Superstar in history, Sgt. Slaughter is truly one of a kind. A former U.S. Marine, he solidified that name by intimidating adversaries and fans alike in his trademark drill sergeant attire. Following his retirement from full-time competition, Sgt. Slaughter acted as WWE Commissioner, and today serves as a WWE Ambassador.

PIR and Richard Petty Create One-of-a-Kind Fan Experience!

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. Several artist renderings are attached to this press release in a 4-page PDF.

“Throughout his career Richard Petty has done so much for the fans. We’re very excited to be able to partner with him on what promises to be a truly unique offering for PIR’s patrons,” said PIR president Bryan R. Sperber. “Providing race fans the opportunity to turn laps at the brand new Richard Petty Raceway will add to PIR’s engaging appeal and we’re very excited to unveil Richard Petty Raceway in November.”

A grand opening for Richard Petty Raceway is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, November 13. Petty – NASCAR’s all-time wins leader and Raceway namesake – is scheduled to appear, along with Reed Sorenson, the current driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Grand Opening of Richard Petty Raceway at PIR,” said Petty. “The fans deserve to have fun and be entertained during their entire experience at the race track. I hope Richard Petty Raceway can be part of that.”

Richard Petty Raceway will open on Thursday, November 12 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The facility will stay open throughout the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend at PIR, with racing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, and action beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting until 30 minutes before the checkered flags of the Able Body Labor 200 and Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday.

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.

Fans will have the chance to win a spot to compete in a race at the grand opening against the Sprint Cup Series professionals by entering the Richard Petty Raceway Grand Opening Sweepstakes. More information is available online at www.phoenixraceway.com/rpraceway.

Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). Follow Phoenix International Raceway 365 days a year on the Web at www.phoenixraceway.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway. Be a part of it all at PIR!