Championship weekend will continue to bake in the Arizona desert.
NASCAR’s championship weekend will stay in the arid desert of Phoenix Raceway for the sixth consecutive season in the year 2025 after NASCAR’s official announcement on May 16. Despite criticism of the short track package, the racing product at Phoenix and the improvement of racing on intermediate tracks, the one-mile dogleg oval will retain the championship-deciding race to end the season.
With NASCAR’s decision final for next year’s championship race, what are the biggest plusses and minuses that surround the decision to stay in Phoenix to end the year?
The most significant benefit of keeping the finale in Phoenix is that the track is already built to host the championship event. Although the racing product has not met the expectations of the fantastic races that have taken place so far in 2024, NASCAR and the city of Phoenix have invested a hefty sum of resources since 2020 to create and improve the championship experience at the track — a move the former championship-hosting track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, wasn’t willing to do to retain the title weekend in 2019.
Another positive trend that the track has going for it is that NASCAR fans in the Phoenix area continue to pack the house at both the spring date and the championship race. Phoenix is currently on a six-race sellout streak of its 42,000-seat capacity grandstands, and with the championship staying at the track through 2025, it wouldn’t surprise me to see that streak continue.
The quick access to downtown is also an attractive draw. The track is just over 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix, barring traffic. This beats Miami’s commute, which takes 44 minutes with a $3.41 toll included. Without tolls, it takes about an hour to get to downtown Miami from the speedway.
Although the racing product could at many points be underwhelming at Phoenix, some fans value seeing the strongest driver take the win. The 2024 spring race was a prime example, as Christopher Bell, who easily had the strongest car that day, was able to fight through the field to take the victory in dominant fashion.
NASCAR can also continue to try to improve the racing product at Phoenix by either changing aspects of the car or finding a tire that wears better at the…
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