Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

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!

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, 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.

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.

Arizona Senator John McCain will act as the Grand Marshal for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 15.

The role will mark a return to Phoenix International Raceway for the Grand Canyon State’s senior senator, who also appeared as Grand Marshal before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the track in April 2006.

“I’m thrilled to serve as the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR race on Sunday,” said McCain.

A retired Navy captain, McCain entered the United States Senate in 1987 following four years as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.

As Grand Marshal, McCain will appear on the pre-race ceremonies stage with Phoenix International Raceway 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. Following driver introductions, McCain will deliver the familiar “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!” command to the 43 starters in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field.

E1 Music recording artist and 16-time Grammy nominee Brian McKnight will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 15.

In a career spanning nearly two decades, McKnight has earned a spot in contemporary music history, with seven platinum and multi-platinum album releases and the sale of over 20 million records worldwide. In 1999, McKnight’s single “Back at One” from the album of the same name reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, maintaining that position for eight weeks.

With a mass appeal for soul and R&B listeners everywhere, McKnight is diversely talented in nine musical instruments, and currently delights television viewers with the new one-hour entertainment showcase, “The Brian McKnight Show.”

McKnight is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including Billboard’s Songwriter of the Year, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist at the American Music Awards, Outstanding Male Artist at the NAACP Image Awards, and Soul Train’s Best Album of the Year.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star and Budweiser driver Kasey Kahne will appear at Phoenix International Raceway’s Budweiser ROLL-BAR for a question-and-answer session with NASCAR fans before the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil on Sunday, November 15.

Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports, is one of 12 drivers to have qualified this season for the Chase for the Sprint Cup – his second such distinction. Kahne is currently 12th in Sprint Cup Series points with two wins and 11 top-10 finishes in 28 starts this season.

Fellow Sprint Cup competitors Casey Mears and A.J. Allmendinger will also appear at Phoenix International Raceway’s hospitality clubs over the weekend. Each driver will be scheduled to participate for 15 minutes, and appearance times will be confirmed in the coming weeks and announced on PhoenixRaceway.com.

More driver appearances will be announced soon.

Budweiser ROLL-BAR is located just behind the Bobby Allison Grandstands on the west side of the track, and features the best in live entertainment with drink specials each day and night throughout the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR weekend and appearances by some of NASCAR’s top personalities.

The innovative hospitality environment at Budweiser ROLL-BAR includes a special VIP section for guests, featuring high-end furniture on a raised platform. A number of unique custom structures – including a bar to house a replica of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne – adorn the beer garden area and highlight the Budweiser branding seen throughout the club.

Single-day tickets to Budweiser ROLL-BAR are available for $89 on Saturday, November 14 and for $139 on Sunday, November 15. Additional purchase of a grandstand ticket is still required for track admission.

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!

Phoenix International Raceway has teamed up with the legendary Richard Petty on a joint venture to create the first-ever high performance kart track within a NASCAR facility. This experiential innovation will put race fans behind the wheel and into the action at the brand new Richard Petty Raceway – located on PIR’s Midway – beginning this November for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend.

The 1/16th-mile Richard Petty Raceway will be located just inside Gate 4 at PIR, providing fans the chance to test their racing mettle for just $20 a session. The permanent one-of-a-kind venue will allow first-hand entertainment for fans 16 and older. Several artist renderings are attached to this press release in a 4-page PDF.

“Throughout his career Richard Petty has done so much for the fans. We’re very excited to be able to partner with him on what promises to be a truly unique offering for PIR’s patrons,” said PIR president Bryan R. Sperber. “Providing race fans the opportunity to turn laps at the brand new Richard Petty Raceway will add to PIR’s engaging appeal and we’re very excited to unveil Richard Petty Raceway in November.”

A grand opening for Richard Petty Raceway is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, November 13. Petty – NASCAR’s all-time wins leader and Raceway namesake – is scheduled to appear, along with Reed Sorenson, the current driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Grand Opening of Richard Petty Raceway at PIR,” said Petty. “The fans deserve to have fun and be entertained during their entire experience at the race track. I hope Richard Petty Raceway can be part of that.”

Richard Petty Raceway will open on Thursday, November 12 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The facility will stay open throughout the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend at PIR, with racing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 13, and action beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting until 30 minutes before the checkered flags of the Able Body Labor 200 and Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday.

The raceway’s structure will include a pit and garage area, as well as grandstand seating where each driver’s “fans” can gather and show support – just as they would for the Chase for the Sprint Cup competitors on PIR’s one-mile oval. Each race at Richard Petty Raceway can include five competitors.

At 20 feet wide and featuring a flagman’s tower, tire barriers, and a layout quite similar to that of the main Phoenix International Raceway oval, Richard Petty Raceway is designed to give NASCAR fans yet another exciting racing surface – with the added thrill of participation in 9hp high-performance karts, provided by Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE). Competitors will put on firesuits and helmets and receive detailed instruction from RPDE professionals prior to racing.

Fans will have the chance to win a spot to compete in a race at the grand opening against the Sprint Cup Series professionals by entering the Richard Petty Raceway Grand Opening Sweepstakes. More information is available online at www.phoenixraceway.com/rpraceway.

Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). Follow Phoenix International Raceway 365 days a year on the Web at www.phoenixraceway.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway. Be a part of it all at PIR!

The speed and power of NASCAR and baseball will join again in 2009 in a partnership to raise money and awareness for two major youth charities.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher and 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, and Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber have announced plans for the charity event “Offspeed,” set to take place at PIR’s exclusive luxury lounge, Octane, on Thursday, November 12 at 6 p.m.

“Offspeed” will benefit NASCAR-themed Victory Junction and Brandon Webb’s K Foundation, the initiative started by Webb and his wife, Alicia, in 2005 to benefit ill Phoenix-area children.

“‘Offspeed’ is a great opportunity to raise money for two great charities,” Bowyer said. “It’s a pleasure partnering in the event with Phoenix International Raceway and Brandon Webb.  It’s a great night of fun in Octane, and it all goes for great causes.”

Said Webb: “We’re really excited to be partnering with Clint and PIR. ‘Offspeed’ is going to be a great event and its proceeds will help thousands of sick children in both Phoenix and Kansas City.”

Tickets for the charity event are $250 each, and guests will have the chance to mingle with Bowyer and Webb while enjoying food and drink, an amazing view of the racing action at PIR, and an exclusive charity auction, all while contributing to the future well-being of critically ill children.

Presenting sponsorships for the event are also available, with packages starting at $10,000. Presenting sponsors will receive two tickets each to “Offspeed” and Sunday’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, as well as a Sprint Cup Series garage tour – including a guided tour of Bowyer’s No. 33 car hauler – and pit and pre-race ceremony access to witness driver introductions. Sponsors will be invited to a meet-and-greet photo opportunity for two (2) with Bowyer and Webb prior to “Offspeed,” and will receive two authentic Brandon Webb jerseys.

Those interested in attending or sponsoring “Offspeed” are encouraged to contact Stacy Kutz of Phoenix International Raceway at (623) 463-5632 or skutz@phoenixinternationalraceway.com. For more information on Victory Junction, visit www.victoryjunction.org. For more information on Brandon Webb’s K Foundation, visit www.brandonwebb.org.

Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223). Follow Phoenix International Raceway 365 days a year on the Web at www.phoenixraceway.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway, and become a fan on Facebook by searching for “Phoenix International Raceway.” Be a part of it all at PIR!

Phoenix International Raceway is offering a $25 reserved seat to fans for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil on November 15 – an unprecedented value to watch the semifinal race in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. In both 2007 and 2008, three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won the race in Phoenix, virtually clinching NASCAR’s highest honor in the Valley of the Sun.

Johnson currently sits fourth in the Sprint Cup standings behind teammate and four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, who won the Sprint Cup in 2002 and 2005, and 2004 Sprint Cup champ Kurt Busch. Those four will be joined in Phoenix by NASCAR’s brightest stars, including Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Carl Edwards.

Beyond the hard-charging Sprint Cup action of the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, fans can secure three full nights of NASCAR action for a mere $47 by purchasing the NASCAR Extreme Value Ticket Package. PIR is offering a $15 reserved seat to its Nationwide Series race on Saturday, November 14 – a series currently topped by Kyle Busch and Edwards – and a $7 reserved seat for the Lucas Oil 150 in the Camping World Truck Series on Friday, November 13. PIR kicks off the November race weekend with grassroots USAC racing as part of the famed Copper World Classic on Thursday, November 12.

Fans at Phoenix International Raceway can see championship-caliber races at the close of the 2009 season in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series for less than the price of many Sprint Cup Series tickets alone at other facilities. Throw in free daily on-site parking – not to mention a wide array of musical entertainment and interactive fun from PIR’s Midway – and fans in the Valley of the Sun have one of sports and entertainment’s best deals at their fingertips.

A full listing of prices for the November NASCAR event weekend is attached to this e-mail.

Tickets for the November NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are available now by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or visiting www.phoenixraceway.com. Be a part of it all at PIR!

Just how good is Jimmie Johnson? Is he the best ever? Or is he just the best in the current Chase format? These are the comparisons that will be made (barring disaster) when  Johnson cruises home with his third straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship next week at Homestead.

It was just another day at the track for the 48 team. They led a race-high 217 laps out of 313, and no other teams were ever really able to mount a serious challenge to contend for the victory. Johnson now heads into next week’s season finale with a 141 point lead over Carl Edwards, and needs to only finish 36th or better to join the great Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in history to win three straight championships.

Edwards, who won the last two races and had closed the gap to 108 points coming into the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, finished fourth. Carl spent much of the early part of the race fighting with his set-up, but was able to get it together and move towards the front. Edwards, who is not mathematically eliminated, isn’t giving up hope. Listening to his post-race interview, he still believes he is alive, and plans to come out and give it 100%.

Even with a great run at Homestead next week, Edwards amazing year (and Chase) is most likely going to come up short. Carl has seven victories this season, and in the Chase came two of those, plus five top-5’s. A bad move at Talladega (29th) and unfortunate luck at Lowe’s (33rd) will have the 99 team wondering what could have been.

Even if your not a fan, you have to give it up to Jimmie. The man, as I have said in a previous post, is the King of the Chase. Yesterday’s win at Phoenix International Raceway was the 14th Chase win of his career and third this season. He has an amazing average finishing position of 4.67 over the past nine races.

Who can stop the 48 team? Who can even slow them down? One thing is almost for sure…it will have to be next season.

This weekend 43 drivers and almost 35,000 horsepower charge into the valley at Phoenix International Raceway for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. There are just two races left in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and a number of story lines are continuing to build.  Check out the rest of the “Two To Go” posts to get the skinny on what is shaping up to be an exciting finish!