Double Header Week
INDYCAR and NASCAR Cross Over in the Desert
Phoenix Raceway is bringing the heat this weekend as both INDYCAR and NASCAR take on the desert oval. NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick enters the race leading the championship standings after winning three consecutive races.
Alex Palou, the four-time INDYCAR champion, won the season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida.The Arizona oval has not hosted an INDYCAR race since the 2018 season. It also marks the first oval race before the Indianapolis 500 since Texas in 2023, giving the series a much-needed short-oval test ahead of May.
Reports from NASCAR suggest the race weekend is drawing massive crowds. Phoenix Raceway has reportedly sold out as fans flock to see both series compete on the same weekend.
“@PhoenixRaceway is expecting a crowd on Saturday double the size of the equivalent day last year there which was NASCAR-only, and all hospitality/suite inventory is sold out for the weekend, per NASCAR and IndyCar,” confirmed Adam Stern.
The rare doubleheader weekend gives fans the opportunity to see two of North America’s premier racing series share the same stage. While the cars and racing styles differ, both championships enter the weekend with strong storylines.
For INDYCAR, Phoenix marks an important early-season test on an oval before the series heads deeper into the schedule. Drivers will be looking to gather data and build confidence on oval tracks ahead of the Indianapolis 500 in May, the crown jewel of the INDYCAR calendar.
Meanwhile, NASCAR returns to the one-mile desert oval with the championship battle already heating up. Reddick’s recent winning streak has given him momentum early in the season, but Phoenix has historically produced tight racing and strategic battles that can quickly shift the standings.
Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)
INDYCAR
Practice – Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET
Qualifying – Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET
Race – Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR Cup Series
Practice & Qualifying – Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Shriners Children’s 500 – Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET
With sold-out crowds expected and two major series competing on the same weekend, Phoenix Raceway is set to deliver one of the most anticipated race weekends of the season.