About Phoenix Raceway in Arizona
A low-banked tri-oval race track that measures 1 mile around, Phoenix Raceway in Arizona has the same basic structure it did when it opened in 1964. Currently, the race track hosts multiple NASCAR races each year, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race every year since 2020.
First joining the NASCAR Cup Series rotation in 1988, the track has also hosted the United Rentals Work United 500 series each season since 2005. Also a part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Phoenix Raceway in Arizona hosts two of their races annually, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race (since 1999) and the United Rentals 200 (since 2005). Not to be left out, the motorsport racetrack hosts the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the Craftsman 150 and the ARCA Menard Series for the General Tire 150.
Originally built in 1964 and called the Phoenix International Raceway, the race track was originally a road course measuring 2.7 miles. Built to be the best open-wheel track in the western part of the United States, the track replaced an old track at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and was instantly a hit with drivers and fans alike. Nine years after it opened in 1973, it was purchased by Fastrack International. Briefly, it was renamed the FastTrack International Speedway, before being purchased again in 1976 by USAC team owner Bob Fletcher who changed the name back to the Phoenix International Raceway.
In January 2017, the Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix underwent a major renovation, coming in with a final price tag of $178 million, making it the best-in-class race track it remains today. Among the new amenities added were a grandstand with a fan capacity of 45,000, 32 renovated and 19 new suites, a new FanZone on the infield, and technology updates throughout the raceway.
Is there sports betting at Phoenix Raceway?
No, there is not currently sports betting at Phoenix Raceway, with no retail sportsbook currently operating at the track. Patrons at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona can, however, use one of the 16 online sportsbook apps available in Arizona while visiting.
Currently, the full list of sports betting apps available to residents and visitors of Arizona includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, Betfred, ESPN Bet, Unibet, Hard Rock, Golden Nugget, SuperBook, Betway, Bally Bet, Desert Diamond, SaharaBets, and Bet 365. As long as you are in the state of Arizona, including while at Phoenix Raceway, you can use any of the aforementioned sports betting apps to bet on races available for wagering.
Phoenix Raceway and ESPN BET Sportsbook partnership
Hosting the Hollywood Casino 400, presented by Barstool Sportsbook in September 2022, NASCAR has had a partnership with ESPN Bet’s parent company PENN Interactive for nearly three years. On July 21, 2021, just months before legal sports betting officially launched in Arizona, NASCAR and PENN Interactive announced a multi-year access partnership in the state of Arizona.
In the process, PENN National’s ESPN Bet Sportsbook AZ (then Barstool Sportsbook) became the exclusive sportsbook of Phoenix Raceway in Arizona and began accumulating market share amongst the state’s sports bettors and motorsport enthusiasts. As one of the largest gaming operators in the country with 42 properties spread across 20 states at the time PENN Entertainment used the announcement to prep for the launch of their product within the state of Arizona.
From the start, the Barstool Sportsbook (ESPN Bet) mobile app began running NASCAR-focused promotions and boosting the visibility of NASCAR odds across its online and mobile platforms. Soon after the initial announcement, soft plans were made to build a Barstool (ESPN BET) retail sportsbook at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona, which would have made it the first brick-and-mortar sportsbook at a motorsport racetrack anywhere in the United States.
In June 2023, however, it was announced that those plans were at a minimum put on hold, as Barstool’s market share in the state in terms of mobile sports betting was approximately just 5%. While the chances of a physical ESPN Bet Sportsbook at Phoenix Raceway have not been completely ruled out, it appears those plans have been scrapped for the time being while NASCAR and PENN re-evaluate the economics around the project.
No, there are currently no other forms of gambling at Phoenix Raceway other than online sports betting. There are 16 legal online sports betting apps in AZ NASCAR bettors can choose from including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, Betfred, ESPN Bet, Unibet, Hard Rock, Golden Nugget, SuperBook, Betway, Bally Bet, Desert Diamond, SaharaBets, and Bet 365.
Phoenix Raceway’s entertainment & cuisine
For patrons visiting Phoenix Raceway in Arizona, there is more than just best-in-class racing to enjoy, as there are some entertainment and cuisine options as well. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect when making your first visit.