Fox Sports Arizona & PIR Announce New Partnership!

FOX Sports Arizona and Phoenix International Raceway have agreed to a new partnership that allows the regional sports network the ability to showcase Arizona’s premiere motorsports venue.

The historic track hosts the Southwest’s biggest racing events and has become one of NASCAR’s fastest and most exciting stops in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Beginning this Wednesday (Oct. 10), racing fans will be able to relive some of PIR’s best races in recent memory when FOX Sports Arizona debuts its new “Phoenix International Raceway Classics” series.

Produced to highlight past races at the venue won by NASCAR legends and get fans ready for this year’s Advocare 500 Weekend at PIR (Nov. 11-13), the first show will take viewers back to the 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 that was won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. The series will offer four different one-hour episodes hosted by Valley resident Chris Neville, who is part of NASCAR’s coverage on TNT and SPEED TV.

Other races that will air in the series include the 2006 Subway Fresh 500 won by Kevin Harvick, the 2007 Subway Fresh Fit 500 won by Jeff Gordon and the 2009 Subway Fresh Fit 500 won by Mark Martin. Here is the complete schedule:

Oct. 10 @ 7:00 pm        2003 Checker Auto Parts 500
Oct. 15 @ 7:00 pm        2006 Subway Fresh 500
Oct. 24 @ 7:00 pm        2007 Subway Fresh Fit 500
Oct. 30 @ 7:00 pm        2009 Subway Fresh Fit 500

With the victory in 2007, Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt with his 76th all-time win and he recently said this about the moment, “What stands out to me is winning that race, tying Dale Earnhardt and carrying the No. 3 flag. That was a big deal. I looked up to Dale so much, admired him, respected him, to accomplish anything that he did in this sport was huge, so we wanted to honor him.”

When also asked a few weeks ago about his 2009 victory in Phoenix, Mark Martin said “That race was real special because it certainly looked like I wouldn’t win another race in my career at that time and it had been a few years since I’d won.”

This new agreement will also have FOX Sports Arizona produce a half-hour program in the Spring that highlights all the happenings from the 2013 Subway Fresh Fit 500. Phoenix International Raceway is one of just 12 tracks to host two Sprint Cup Races in one season and this program will bring to light everything that happens on not only the 1.0-mile oval, but off the track and outside PIR during race week. The air date and time for the show will be announced at a later date.

“Our new partnership with Phoenix International Raceway expands FOX Sports Arizona’s coverage of the local sports scene even further and strengthens our reputation as the network Arizona sports fans turn to first for comprehensive local sports programming,” said Brian Hogan, FOX Sports Arizona Sr. Vice President & General Manager.

“We’re tremendously excited to work with FOX Sports Arizona on a project that showcases many of the dramatic victories that have occurred at PIR over the years,” said Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber.  “It will be a real treat for fans to watch some of these historical accomplishments as we draw closer to our 2012 semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup – the AdvoCare 500.”

In addition to the Sprint Cup Races, PIR is also home to the Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series, K&N Pro Series West and the first NASCAR Mexico Series race to ever be held in the United States on March 1, 2013.

FOX Sports Arizona televises the most regional sports action in the state and is the exclusive cable television home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Cardinals, Northern Arizona University and Phoenix Mercury. FOX Sports Arizona is currently seen in 2.5 million households in Arizona & New Mexico and can also be seen across the country via home satellite services. And for even more coverage of the local sports scene, log onto www.foxsportsarizona.com, www.twitter.com/foxsportsaz and www.facebook.com/foxsportsarizona.

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.

Park ‘N Ride Program Available for Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500!

Phoenix International Raceway is encouraging race fans to make their trip to the track a smooth one on Sunday, November 15.

Following its success for previous PIR events, the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Park ‘N Ride will be available for fans to make an easy trip to the feature event of the track’s November NASCAR event weekend, the November 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil.

After much success in recent years, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are welcome to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds, from where shuttle bus service from First Student Charter of Phoenix will be provided to the Gate 7 area at the track. Parking and shuttle services to PIR will total just $7 per car.

With the green flag dropping on the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at 1:15 p.m., “Park ‘N Ride” services will be available for 12 hours – from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. – on Sunday, giving all NASCAR fans an easy way both to and from the track, before and after the race.

Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can “Park ‘N Ride” at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an earlier arrival to the facility.