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SPORTS
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BY GRANT GREABELL Peoria Times Staff Writer
For the third consecutive year, Phoenix Raceway will be home to the NASCAR Championship Weekend.
The tradition started in 2020 and will continue this fall from Nov. 5 to Nov. 7, as well as in 2022 from Nov. 4 to Nov. 6.
Fans will look forward to seeing the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series West.
“We’re so proud that we get to host NASCAR’s biggest event,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese.
In the 2020 event, Austin Cindric won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway. Sheldon Creed won the Lucas Oil 150 as part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
David Gilliland won the ARCA Menards Series West and, at 24 years old, Chase Elliot became the third-youngest NASCAR Cup Series champion.
“Crowning those four champions and celebrating the series, celebrating our drivers, our teams — it’s going to be a great event. We’re really looking forward to it,” Giese said.
“And again, (we’re) just honored that we have the opportunity to host this once again.”
In the 2021 event, the venue will be at 100% capacity in the grandstands and hillside.
“Our loyal and passionate fans have shown tremendous support for Phoenix Raceway and our entire sport throughout the pandemic, including the inaugural NASCAR Championship Weekend at our facility last November,” Giese said.
Also, fans can upgrade to the Infield Experience because camping restrictions have been lifted. This gives fans access to garage walkways, pre-race festivities, victory lane and post-race championship celebrations.
“We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to celebrate the crowning of four champions in front of a packed grandstand and to showcase to the world what this community of race fans in Arizona is all about,” Giese said.
The NASCAR Championship Weekend is returning to Phoenix Raceway. (Photo courtesy of Nicholas Barker)
Tickets are available for the 2021 races at phoenixraceway.com, by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or by visiting the Phoenix Raceway ticket office during regular business hours.
SEE NASCAR PAGE 13
Super Bowl LVII date set for State Farm Stadium
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee has chosen the date for Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium — Feb. 12, 2023.
“The selection of the date for Super Bowl LVII means we are getting closer to the event all of Arizona is anticipating,” said David Rousseau, Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee chairman.
“The exposure and economic impact it brings to our region is unmatched, and so is the level of community support required to execute such a massive undertaking.”
Arizona was selected to host Super Bowl LVII in May 2018, marking the fourth time that a Super Bowl was awarded to the state. It is the third time the nation’s most popular sporting event will be played at State Farm Stadium, and first since Super Bowl XLIX following the 2014 season.
Arizona joins South Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay as the only sites selected to host the Super Bowl at least four times.
NASCAR FROM PAGE 12
Season ticket holders can nail down their seats for the 2022 event. Others must wait until a later date to purchase their 2022 tickets.
Giese said she is ecstatic to have full capacity again. She and her staff are ready to welcome fans back.
“We have the greatest fans in motorsports, and they’ve rallied behind this event, showcasing to the world why the Phoenix metropolitan area and the entire state of Arizona is an elite sports and entertainment destination,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to an incredibly successful event this fall, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to do the same in 2022.”
Creating a safe and healthy environment for everybody involved is the No. 1 priority for NASCAR and Phoenix Raceway. If necessary, health and safety adjustments will be made for the NASCAR Championship Weekend.
The last time the game was staged in Arizona, it produced a record economic impact for the state. A 2015 study by the Seidman Research Institute, W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU determined that Super Bowl XLIX, the 2015 Pro Bowl and related events produced a gross economic impact of $719.4 million for the region.
That was the largest economic impact of any special event held in Arizona. In addition to the games played in Glendale, more than 1 million people visited Verizon Super Bowl Central in Downtown Phoenix and more than 500,000 people enjoyed events in Downtown Scottsdale.
In a span of just over 26 months in 2015 to 2017, State Farm Stadium hosted a Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, College Football National Championship Game and the NCAA Men’s Final Four. It was an unprecedented stretch for a stadium that generated $1.3 billion in economic impact for the state.
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