Phoenix Raceway delivered in its years as NASCAR title host

Phoenix Raceway had its swan song earlier this month as the host of NASCAR championship weekend, and boy, did it go out in memorable fashion.

All three races came down to the final laps to decide the 2025. Corey Heim needed a seven-wide pass to make it happen in the Craftsman Truck Series, which saved the industry from seeing the season’s most dominant driver not win the biggest prize. The same couldn’t be said on Saturday when Jesse Love beat Connor Zilisch in the Xfinity Series. And on Sunday, it was split emotions for Kyle Larson, who became a two-time champion, after Denny Hamlin was within a few laps of finally capturing that elusive first title.

The emotions sure were mixed from a weekend full of racing by the time the last hauler left the desert. It was the sixth time the facility had been the championship host, and, at least for the foreseeable future, the last.

NASCAR is set to rotate the championship race beginning next year when it returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway, the only other racetrack to host the championship race in the last 23 years. The plans beyond 2026, and which tracks specifically would be title hosts, have not been revealed. Phoenix, however, will remain in the rotation somewhere, as NASCAR made clear when the rotation model was announced earlier this year.

“I think it’s been great,” Joey Logano said. “I’m sure I’m speaking for all of us that we got so used to finishing the year in Miami, where it was tradition, we were used to it, and when that got ripped away, you were kind of like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I’m going to like this.’ I’ll be honest, the first couple of years it felt weird being out here, but it’s honestly felt like tradition now since we’ve done it for so long.”

The first title race held in Phoenix was in 2020, but it didn’t live up to its full potential due to the pandemic. But the 2021-2024 title races all sold out. In fact, Phoenix had seven consecutive sellout races between its spring and fall events, from the 2021 finale to the 2024 finale.

Credit where it is due: Phoenix draws a crowd. The fans out west love racing and repeatedly show it.

Phoenix's title deciders have pulled in good crowds. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

“No matter where it is, I don’t think it's going to matter,” Logano continued. “The place is going to pack out no matter where it is; it’s a championship race. So, as long as it has all that clout behind it, I don’t think it matters where you put it. The fans are going to show up.

“But I will say the fans at the track here have been great. The racetrack itself has done a good job of making it feel special, and that’s important. It’s only a big deal if you make it a big deal, and I feel they’ve done a good job of making this race feel different than all the other races. Because it is. It should be.”

Phoenix grabbed the $178 million bull by the horns when it was awarded the championship race after its renovation project. The racetrack became more fan-friendly, with an infield offering various activities and garages that put fans within feet of the cars and crews. The same could be said of its upgraded media facilities and overall industry infrastructure.

The city also showed its embrace of its role as host with billboards along the interstate and signs/banners along one of the main roads leading to the racetrack. NASCAR also held many events throughout the community before cars hit the racetrack.

“I think that side of things has been really good,” Alex Bowman, an Arizona native, said. “The on-track stuff, that place just struggles, I think, from a track perspective, with this race car to put on the racing we probably all want to see. But at the same time, we’re always working to improve that. I think everyone else has been really good.

“It’s a cool place. I think it’s a really underrated camping track – the fans are always really cool there, and the campground there gets super wild. Almost like (Talladega). So, it’s a neat place and I think they’ve done the best job they can with it.”

Ah, yes, the flip side of the coin. A great facility and a great host city, but the racing has been lacking.

Both of Kyle Larson's titles were secured in Phoenix. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

William Byron, who admitted he would probably live in the city after he’s done racing because it’s “one of my favorites,” believes the racetrack is getting better with age. And having its own identity as a tough racetrack should be a notch in its favor.

“I don’t think anybody would tell you it’s easy,” Byron said. “It’s a very tough racetrack to get a hold of, and I think that in itself is probably worthy of a championship (race).”

Phoenix hosted six title races but crowned only four different champions: Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney. Those champions came from just two organizations: Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske.

“I like the area, and when we go out there in the spring and fall, it’s gorgeous,” Blaney said. “I love the West Coast, especially in the fall. I had my bachelor party out there right after the championship last year, just because I love golfing out there, and the weather is spectacular. And I think the racetrack itself has done a good job of bringing a championship race to the West Coast.”

The racetrack struggled to produce aesthetically pleasing competition and parity, and a major storyline over the last three years was that Team Penske was the odds-on favorite. Fortunately for the competition, the organization didn’t have a car in the title race this year, although it didn’t keep them from winning the race with Blaney.

But the track and city have served their purpose over the last six years and proven their worth as a title host. It is unknown when it’ll take the reins again, but when they do, it seems they’ll be greeted with open arms.

“It’s great,” Larson said. “I think it’s been an awesome host for championship weekend. Scottsdale and Phoenix in late October or November have prime weather. So, that’s great. There is so much to do outside of the track, too. Every year we’ve been sold out, so it’s been awesome.

“Whatever the tracks that will be in rotation or whatever, I’m sure they’ll do a good job as well, but Phoenix has done a phenomenal job the last six years.”