Phoenix Raceway Track Guide + Practical Race Day Tips

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Get ready for some racing under the desert sun! Phoenix Raceway is a one-mile tri-oval track located in Avalon just outside of Phoenix city limits. It’s an exciting track where you can likely expect blue skies and great weather for racing!

Phoenix Raceway was my (Moani here) first non-road course track (our home track is Sonoma), so I was extra excited for my first “oval” track experience! I love a road course, but it’s awesome to be able to see the whole track at all times.

Although Phoenix Raceway is considered an oval track, it does have a unique a dogleg shape on the frontstretch giving it more of a tri-oval shape. This unique shape gives drivers a fun challenge, especially on restarts!

This Phoenix Raceway Track Guide details our personal experiences and observations at Phoenix Raceway while attending the NASCAR O’Reilly and Cup Series races.

Be sure to also check out our related posts for visiting Phoenix for a race at Phoenix Raceway:

Ticket Notes

Together, we’ve attended the Phoenix NASCAR Cup race with Grandstand Admission + Infield Passes. Micah has also attended a race here in one of the luxury suites through work (which come with Infield Passes as well).

Here are a few notes on some of the different ticket and add-on options for the Phoenix Raceway:

Grandstand Admission – Basic ticketing for all racegoers (unless choosing a Hillside seat)
Hillside – located on a hill above Turn 1 and does not include admission to the grandstand area. You’ll want to bring a blanket or your own chair for this spot!
Infield Experience Pass – requires a GA or Hillside ticket in addition to the pass and gives you access to special events, the Infield area, pits, and garages, along with the opportunity to sign the start/finish line (worth it in our opinion!)
Busch Light Lounge – Access to a special lounge, which is an add-on that requires a GA/Hillside ticket. This also includes an Infield Experience pass, food and drinks (including beer and wine), parking pass, games/entertainment, and driver appearances.
VIP Experience add-ons are available in addition to GA tickets, which include various perks like photo ops, commemorative tickets, tours, and access to VIP areas
Ally Curve & Luxury Suites are also available for more elevated race day experiences (and could be worth the splurge if you want to be in the air conditioning!)

Location & Transportation

Phoenix Raceway is about a 30 to 40-minute drive from Central Phoenix, out in the town of Avalon to the west of the city (traffic depending).

The track is located at the base of the Estrella Mountains, giving it a beautiful and scenic backdrop!

Approaching the raceway with the Estrella Mountains backdrop!

Transportation

We do recommend having a car when visiting the Phoenix area, especially if you’re in town for the spring race and are also planning to also attend some spring training games. We had a car and chose to drive ourselves to the race.

If you really don’t want to drive, you can also Uber/Lyft or catch a taxi to/from the raceway. There is a designated area out front specifically for rideshare arrivals and pickups. Keep in mind, you’re likely to encounter premium pricing especially for pickups at the racetrack. Micah shared a group taxi on a previous visit with co-workers for a flat $150.00 fee to get back to Phoenix (however, this was for a van).

Parking at Phoenix Raceway

Traffic going early in the morning right around the time the track opens was light, and parking was easy and organized.

Suite guests and Busch Light Lounge guests have designated parking areas
General Parking is FREE for everyone!

Free parking is in a dirt lot so be mindful of what shoes you’re wearing and be okay with getting them a little dirty.

Parking Tram

Good news if you want to park in the free parking area for general admission – there’s a tram to save your feet! The trams are essentially trailers with seats that are pulled by large trucks and there are several deployed to keep things moving along.

We didn’t think the tram ride was worth it for where we parked (Blue 2). We got picked up at the Busch Light stop and then had to ride the tram all the way down to the end of the parking lots to make other pickups, and then turn around. Time saver at arrival = no. Feet saver = perhaps.

I do think the tram is worth it if you’ve parked at the far end of the parking lots, or after the race when heading back to the car. You’re likely going to be walking thousands of steps at the race and the temperatures in Phoenix can be tough. Just keep in mind you may have to wait in a lengthy line for the tram pickup as there is just one line.

Bag Policy

The bag policy at Phoenix Raceway is pretty generous with fans able to bring two bags per person up to 18”x18”x14”. This is perfect for me since I like traveling with a backpack!

I took my favorite travel backpack and was able to fit two 32 oz. water bottles, my sweater, and general belongings (wallet and a few personal items) and still had a bit of extra space for some JGR shirts we bought at the race.

You can also bring a soft-sided cooler with food and other drinks as long as everything is pre-packaged and there is no glass or alcohol.

Water Bottle Tips

There are water bottle filling stations at Phoenix Raceway so you don’t need to purchase bottled water at the raceway (which runs at $5.00) or even pack in full water bottles. On hot days out in the desert, you definitely want to make sure to hydrate.

Get our favorite refillable water bottle on Amazon

Fan Merch Areas

Merch trailers are located to the left of the main entrance once inside the gates.

Pro Tip: Check the Phoenix Raceway event schedules online ahead of time to see if there will be any autograph events for fans. Typically, this will be drivers signing autographs for people who purchase a certain dollar amount of merch. At Phoenix when we were last there, people were lined up for SVG and Connor Zilisch.

Scanner Rentals

Want to hear the race broadcast on the radio or have the ability to tune into your favorite drivers’ frequencies? Get a scanner from the Racing Electronics trailer located near the merch trailers.

These cost $47.95 (you can add a second set of headphones for $16.00) and it is highly advisable to book them online ahead of time in case they sell out.

Photo Ops

Phoenix Raceway has a couple of cool spots for photo ops, including the Where the Speed Meets the Desert Mural (we’re suckers for a good mural moment).

Toyota also does a good job when they set up shop at the tracks and we got the chance to hop into a #19 car!

Kids Zone

NASCAR races are very family friendly! At the Phoenix Raceway, we saw a giant kid’s zone set up, which includes things like video games, face painting, and racing on simulators. This Kids Zone is also LEGO themed, which has photo op stations, a brick wall to design with LEGO Bricks, and LEGO Brick stations to build cars that can race down a ramp.

Be sure to bring your kiddos to the race early to participate in the fun!

Pre-Race Driver Interviews

Interviews with drivers take place throughout the raceway, including in the main entrance area for all General Admission fans, as well as separate interviews for the Infield Experience Pass holders.

When we were there, Ross Chastain was giving an interview in the main entrance area and Kyle Busch and Joey Logano had the Infield interviews.

Trackside Eats

There is a lot of variety when it comes to eats at the Phoenix Raceway, though we chose kind of poorly on our last visit and weren’t too impressed. We will be back for more!

In general, we recommend checking out the food stands that line the outside of the grandstands for items like tacos, nachos, burritos, mac and cheese bowls, and teriyaki chicken bowls. Or if BBQ is your thing, check out Rudy’s at the Huss Brewing Beer Garden.

I can confidently say:

The Infield corn dogs are a win
The chicken Caesar wrap in the Grandstand food area is a pass
The Philly Cheesesteak in the Infield is also a pass

Read through our complete guide to trackside eats at Phoenix for more details on what you can expect to eat at this raceway.

Desert Diamond Infield Experience

If you get a chance to splurge for the Infield Experience, definitely do it! We paid about $100 per person for the spring race and it included a lot.

Read our full Infield Experience review here

Infield Experience Highlights

Exclusive driver interviews
Signing the start/finish line
Close-up views of driver red carpet and intros
Walking the pits, garages, and watching the car rollouts

Weather & What to Wear

Phoenix is in the desert and even during spring and fall months, it can get hot! When we were there for the spring race, it was in the high 80s at the peak of day (even though it was cool in the morning and I wore a sweater).

Dress in layers – you’re probably going to be solid in a tshirt and shorts but might want a light jacket if you’re arriving in the earlier morning hours for the Infield Experience.
Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection from that desert sun
Comfortable walking shoes are a must – between getting to/from the parking lot (even taking the tram to see if it was worth it) and walking the track and Infield, we hit about 17,000 steps.
Sharpie if doing the Infield Experience to sign the start/finish line.

Our Standard Race Day Packing List

Comfortable shoes: With any race track, you’re going to do a lot of walking. Make sure to wear comfy shoes! We recommend Vessi sneakers since they’re also waterproof. Kiziks are also comfortable with water-resistant options.
Water resistant or waterproof backpack/purse (or small, clear bag depending on the track)
If you prefer smaller crossbodies, this Beis sport pack is a great option
Ear plugs (disposable) or these reusable ones (NASCAR cars generate the loudest sounds we’ve ever heard!)
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Hat (maybe with your favorite driver’s number)
Sunglasses (men’s/women‘s)
A light rain jacket (men’s/women’s) or poncho (rain can and will happen at some tracks)
Sharpie for autographs or special activities (like signing the start/finish lines)

Ready for a Trip to Phoenix?

Phoenix Raceway is a fun track and we always love a visit to the area – not just for racing, but also for fun in the desert. Don’t forget to check out our Phoenix Travel Guide for more ideas to incorporate into your trip to Phoenix for the race!

For more details about the Phoenix Raceway itself, the Phoenix Raceway website is an excellent resource for further questions.

Phoenix Raceway Track Guide + Practical Race Day Tips

Ticket Notes