The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
Phoenix Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and the last track on the schedule.
On October 28, 2022, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman would return to the No. 48 car for this race, having sat out the rest of Round of 12 and Round of 8 races (eliminating himself from Round of 12) after he suffered a concussion at the Texas playoff race.[8]Ty Gibbs was set to participate in the race, but withdrew and was replaced by Daniel Hemric after the sudden death of his father Coy Gibbs the previous night.[9]
Championship drivers
Joey Logano was the first of four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas. Christopher Bell clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville. Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott clinched the remaining two spots based on points.[10]
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver.
(i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
(CC) denotes Championship Contender.
(OC) denotes Championship Contender for the Owner’s Playoffs.
Note: Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, and Chase Elliott were not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Average speed: 104.757 miles per hour (168.590 km/h)
Media
Television
NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton and three-time Phoenix winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Dillon Welch were the pit reporters. Rutledge Wood, who reported select races for NASCAR on NBC from outside the track in the city/metropolitan area of the racetrack in 2022, was at this race in-person serving as a roving reporter.
MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace called the action from the broadcast booth when the field races down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Mike Bagley called the action from turns 3 & 4. Kim Coon, Steve Post, Brienne Pedigo and Jason Toy covered the action for MRN from pit lane.
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
^Ty Gibbs withdrew from the race following the unexpected death of his father and Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner Coy Gibbs. Kaulig Racing, Hemric's team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, allowed Hemric to fill in.[9]
