The track butts up against the Estrella Mountains and native American lands to the south. Monument Hill, a rocky, virtually barren peak, guards the track over Turn 3. Close by are the Salt and Gila rivers, both dry beds most of the time. When NASCAR first came to Phoenix in 1988, it truly was a trip to the desert. Now, it's a visit to suburbia. The speedway is in Avondale, 15 miles west of downtown Phoenix, 5 miles off Interstate 10, which eventually leads to Los Angeles. Before the 2003 race, the outside wall in Turn 2 was moved out 12 feet in an effort to promote more side-by-side racing, and most drivers believed it did. A tunnel also was built under Turn 4, which necessitated 40 yards of new pavement on the track.

Date Opened: 1964
Location: Avondale, AZ
First Race: Checker 500: November 6, 1988
Race record: Tony Stewart, 118.132 mph: November 7, 1999
Distance: 1 miles
Front stretch: 1179
Back stretch: 1551
Degree of banking:
On Front Stretch: 3 Degrees
On Back Stretch: 9 Degrees
Distance: 312 miles
Laps #: 312 laps
Seating capacity: 76812
Tickets: (602) 252-2227
Website: www.phoenixintlraceway.com