UFC® Champion Dominick Cruz Named Honorary Pace Car Driver for November 11th AdvoCare 500

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced today that Ultimate Fighting Championship® bantamweight champion, and former star of The Ultimate Fighter® Live on FX, Dominick Cruz has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 11.

“We are honored to have Dominick Cruz as our Honorary Pace Car Driver, he has always represented his sport and the state of Arizona with class,” said Sperber. “We know our fans will be excited to see him drive the pace car on race day.”

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Cruz, 27, has ascended to the top of his profession. Known for his outstanding speed and footwork, Cruz has compiled a 19-1-0 professional record that includes wins over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Urijah Faber, Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles.

“I’m excited to be making my return to PIR and the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race,” said Cruz. “My first experience in the pace car was one of the coolest and most unique opportunities I have ever had. To feel even a sliver of the adrenaline that these drivers experience was so awesome and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Cruz, partnering with Niner Sports Marketing, will participate in pre-race ceremonies and will make appearances on site at PIR on Sunday, November 11. Additional information on race weekend activities is available on Phoenix International Raceway’s official website at www.phoenixraceway.com.

PIR Announces Fan Schedule For November NASCAR Race Weekend!

Four days of NASCAR action will return to Phoenix International Raceway next month with the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event weekend at PIR November 8-11. The event schedule for the fall race weekend, which features the semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, hosts a race from four different NASCAR racing series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck and the K&N Pro Series-West.

The AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will headline the weekend’s action on Sunday, November 11 at 1 p.m. local time.

Saturday, November 10 at 2 p.m. will feature the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, immediately followed is the championship race for the K&N Pro Series-West division, the Casino Arizona 50. Spectator gates open Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m.

Competition kicks off Friday, November 9 with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Pole Qualifying at 4:10 p.m., a change from its traditional Saturday date. Friday’s action on the track concludes with the Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at 6 p.m. Gates open Friday at 9 a.m. and fans arriving early can enjoy Sprint Cup, Nationwide and K&N Pro Series-West practice sessions.

Thursday, November 8
3:00 p.m.                                 Spectator Gates open
3:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.            NCWTS Practice
4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.            NKNPS-W Practice
5:35 p.m – 7:30 p.m.             NCWTS Final Practice

Friday, November 9
9:00 a.m.                                 Spectator Gates open
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.            NKNPS-W Final Practice
10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.        NNS Practice
12:00 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.          NSCS Practice
1:35 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.            NNS Final Practice
2:30 p.m.                                NCWTS Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
4:10 p.m.                                NSCS Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
Gatorade Pole Qualifying
6:00 p.m.                               Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race
(150 laps; 150 miles)

Saturday, November 10
8:00 a.m.                              Spectator Gates open
8:30 a.m.                              NKNPS-W Qualifying (two laps, all positions) impound
9:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.        NSCS Practice
10:35 a.m.                            NNS Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
12:35 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.        NSCS Final Practice
2:00 p.m.                            Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race
(200 laps, 200 miles)
5:00 p.m.                            Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N Pro Series – West Race
(50 laps, 50 miles)

Sunday, November 11
8:00 a.m.                           Spectator Gates open
1:00 p.m.                           AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race
(312 laps, 312 miles)

Tickets for the November 11 AdvoCare 500 Semi-Final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, as well as all other events throughout the November race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are available at www.phoenixraceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

Tickets Go On Sale June 1st For The NASCAR Chase For The Spring Cup Semi-Final Race at PIR!

Phoenix International Raceway has waived the green flag for fans to purchase tickets to one of the most exciting race weekends of the NASCAR season, featuring the semi-final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Tickets to the Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at PIR go on sale June 1 and can be purchased by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

Last year’s semi-final race at PIR sold out quickly. The capacity crowd witnessed a thrilling race won by Kasey Kahne on PIR’s newly paved track, while Chase points leaders Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart positioned themselves for an historic conclusion to the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“Drivers know they have to lay it all on the line at this race in order to have a shot at the Sprint Cup title,” said Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber. “November’s race will likely be one of the most competitive and aggressive events of the 2012 NASCAR season.”

A fun-filled weekend of family entertainment and Veteran’s Day-related activities on in the fan midway will make for one of the most anticipated annual festival atmospheres throughout the Phoenix area. Four exciting NASCAR races will take place on the track, providing a one-of-a-kind experience to be enjoyed with friends and family members of all ages.

A number of great individual pricing options are available throughout the event weekend. Tickets to the Sunday, Nov. 11 Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Race begin at $25. Prices start as low as $15 for the opportunity to watch two Saturday (Nov. 10) races, the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race and the Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race. Fans can enjoy the Friday, Nov. 9, Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at a price point as low as $7 per ticket. Package deals are also available to fans interested in purchasing tickets to both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races on Saturday and Sunday.

Additional information on tickets and activities scheduled for the entire Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be found by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

Edwards Wins – Johnson Closes Gap – Harvick Still Alive – Hamlin Reeling – A Thrilling Day at PIR!

It was an incredible day of racing at PIR. Just what you’d expect with two races to go and three drivers gunning for a championship. For all those Chase haters out there – I hope you’re taking notice of just what the system can produce as far as drama is concerned.

Carl Edwards staged a fierce battle with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Denny Hamlin for six thrilling laps and won a fuel gamble in the closing stages to win the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday afternoon. Edwards locked up a victory when the fuel mileage held up in his Aflac Ford and Hamlin had to pit for fuel with 14 laps to go.

Edwards giddily dashed into a stunned but overjoyed crowd of grandstand fans as he celebrated the end of a 70-race victory drought. Edwards of course treated the faithful fans to his signature victory back flip on the front stretch.

Ryan Newman finished second and Joey Logano third when second-running Juan Pablo Montoya (ended up 16th) ran out of fuel on the last lap.

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!