Phoenix International Raceway announced it has reached an agreement with NASCAR for a second NASCAR Winston West race for its 2003 season, raising the total number of NASCAR events to eight across three weekends. The Featherlite Southwest Series will accompany the Winston West Series during the new NASCAR ‘Doubleheader’ weekend next October.
“The fans have told us they want more NASCAR racing at PIR and our goal has always been to satisfy the wants and needs of our fans,” said Bryan R. Sperber, President of Phoenix International Raceway. “We asked NASCAR to give us another date on the schedule and they agreed, giving us three terrific NASCAR weekends next season.”
The newest event at PIR will be NASCAR ‘Doubleheader’ Weekend, October 4-5, 2003. Like the NASCAR Winter Heat event in early February, NASCAR ‘Doubleheader’ Weekend will feature the NASCAR Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series.
“Phoenix International Raceway has always presented a diverse schedule,” added Sperber. “As usual, we will have something for everyone next season, as we will again host Indy car racing, USAC open wheel racing, and Grand American Rolex Sports Car racing events. But to host three different NASCAR events gives our season schedule an added boost. We’re really looking forward to next season.”
PIR’s ’03 schedule begins in February with NASCAR Winter Heat, followed by the four-race Copper World Indy 200 and the debut of the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series at the famous one-mile paved oval. The Copper World Indy 200 will also mark the return of Michael Andretti to PIR as joins the Indy Racing League, plus the always popular USAC Silver Crown and National Midget Series racers.
The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series runs May 2-3, featuring the all new Daytona Prototypes plus the GT and GTS classes. Once again, the featured Saturday night race will begin at dusk and finish under the lights on PIR’s challenging 1.51-mile road course.
The final event of the season, following the new October 4-5 NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend, will be the 16th running of the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil NASCAR Winston Cup Series race, including the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Busch Series race, the Silverado 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, and the Cruise America 125 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race.
Season tickets for admission to all those races, including first choice at the best reserved seats for the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series races, go on sale November 18th, 2002. Season tickets can be ordered by phone (602-252-2227), in person at the track’s downtown Phoenix ticket office at the Arizona Center, 3rd Street and Van Buren, or online at www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com.
2003 Phoenix International Raceway Schedule
February 1&2 NASCAR Winter Heat
NASCAR Winston West Series
NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series
February 8 Test in the West (open free to the public)
Indy Racing League
Indy Racing Infiniti Pro
March 21-23 Copper World Indy 200
Indy Racing League
Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series
USAC Silver Crown Series
USAC National Midget Series
May 2&3 Rolex Sports Car Series Phoenix 250 Daytona Prototypes, GT and GTS
Grand-Am Cup
October 4-5 NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend
NASCAR Winston West Series
NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series races
Oct.30-Nov.2 NASCAR Weekend
Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil
Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Busch Series
Silverado 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Cruise America 125 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series
