Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson & Tony Stewart drive new track
(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers – Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch – completed a two-day Goodyear tire test at Phoenix International Raceway on August 29-30. The tests ran from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day and provided NASCAR’s official tire manufacturer with data and feedback on PIR’s new racing surface following the August 12 completion of the track’s first major paving project since 1990. The research gathered from the tests will assist Goodyear in selecting a tire for the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at PIR on November 13.
In February, Phoenix International Raceway announced details related to the 47-year old NASCAR facility’s first major track pavement project since 1990. Construction began in March with the removal of the facility’s former racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new race track.
Monday and Tuesday’s tests offered all five drivers their first runs on a new surface that included a series of changes implemented to promote side-by-side racing. One such change, the alteration of PIR’s signature back-stretch dog-leg to include banking and elevation variances, improved what Kurt Busch referred to as the “fun factor” at PIR.
“It’s exciting to feel something new like this,” Busch said. “And to have that exhilarating back straightaway . like a roller coaster, you drive up the banking off of Turn 2 and then you drop down. It’s a nice, light feeling when you get up top – a really interesting back straightaway. I’m also glad they kept many of the old, signature characteristics of Phoenix.”
Busch and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will compete at PIR on November 13 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup when the green flag drops for the Kobalt Tools 500 at 1 p.m. local time. Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 are available now and start at just $25. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit http://phoenixraceway.com/ PhoenixRaceway.com.
About Phoenix International Raceway Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s brand new one-mile oval on November 13, 2011 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – the Kobalt Tools 500. Tickets for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets http://www.PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com http://PhoenixRaceway.com/ , Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway http://Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway/ and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway http://Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway/ .
