Good Ranchers 250 – Phoenix Raceway 2026

Phoenix Raceway opened its gates in 1964 and served from the outset as a versatile racing facility under the direction of Richard Hogue. Already in its opening year, the United States Auto Club (USAC) relocated its traditional fall race from the Arizona State Fairgrounds to the new track and added an additional spring race to the calendar. Since then, the facility in Avondale, Arizona, has continuously hosted American open-wheel racing and ranks among the oldest active ovals in the country.

After nearly a decade of slow development, the track changed ownership in 1973: Phoenix businessman Malcolm Bricklin acquired the facility under the General Vehicle brand. Later, control passed to the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which developed the course into one of the most distinctive and important venues in North American motorsports.

Originally, Phoenix Raceway was a two-in-one concept: a 2.7-mile road course ran around the outside of the property and rejoined the compact, one-mile tri-oval course after the first turn. This dogleg oval, with its four turns and a length of 1.644 kilometers, remains the heart of the facility today and creates exciting passing opportunities through its unusual kink on the backstretch. In recent years, the track has undergone comprehensive modernization, including the relocation of the start/finish line and a reordering of turn numbering, before IndyCar returned.

The winning history in the open cockpit is closely tied to great names. Tony Kanaan holds the official track record, completing a lap in 0:19.738 in 2016 and impressively demonstrating Phoenix’s tight, technical line. Most recently, Josef Newgarden triumphed in 2018 in Avondale, a success that further solidified his reputation as one of the strongest oval drivers of his generation.

When the IndyCar Series returns to the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix in 2026, it meets a track that combines tradition and renewal. Between Arizona’s desert backdrop and the tight, unpredictable layout, the race promises once again to deliver thrilling positional battles on one of North America’s most historic ovals.