NASCAR Cup - Phoenix

The Shriners Children's 500 NASCAR Cup Series race takes place at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. This premier motorsport event features 312 laps around the 1-mile tri-oval track, covering a total distance of 312 miles. The race unfolds in three stages, with the first stage ending at lap 60 and the second at lap 185.

Phoenix Raceway stands as a unique venue on the NASCAR Cup circuit with its distinctive dogleg on the backstretch. The track features varying banking across its surface - 9 degrees in turns 1 and 2, 11 degrees in turns 3 and 4, 9 degrees on the frontstretch, and 3 degrees on the backstretch. Monument Hill offers spectators an exceptional vantage point alongside turns 3 and 4.

Top NASCAR Cup drivers compete in this race, including past champions and rising stars. The 37-car field includes notable racers such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney. Teams like Rick Ware Racing, JR Motorsports, 23XI Racing, and Trackhouse Racing bring their competitive edge to Phoenix.

The race showcases stock cars with 800 horsepower engines navigating Phoenix Raceway's challenging layout. NASCAR's 2025 rules include the Open Exemption Provisional for non-full-time world-class drivers and updated Damaged Vehicle Policy allowing cars to continue racing after garage repairs.

Phoenix Raceway opened in 1964 as a western open-wheel racing venue. NASCAR first visited in 1978, with Alan Kulwicki winning the inaugural Cup Series race in 1988. The facility underwent a $178 million renovation in 2017, moving the start/finish line and reconfiguring pit road.

The track brings nearly $473 million annually to Arizona's economy. Initially built with both a road course and drag strip, Phoenix Raceway has transformed into NASCAR's championship venue since 2020. This NASCAR Cup event delivers high-speed racing action in the desert, showcasing the best of stock car competition at one of America's most distinctive racetracks.