This weekend the Sprint Cup Series readies for its first battle of the season under the lights as teams travel to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. In addition to the racing action from three NASCAR Series on tap at PIR, the track will be serving as host to several celebrities and events during the three-day race weekend.
To start off, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has officially declared the week of April 6th "NASCAR Week" in the state of Arizona, culminating on April 12th with the running of the Subway Fresh Fit 500. An official proclamation was presented from the Office of the Governor commending NASCAR and PIR for their impact on the Arizona economy, in addition to bringing the state to the spotlight as an estimated eight million viewers will watch NASCAR racing from Arizona over the three-day weekend.
Once the activities get underway at the track on Thursday, fans will able to spot many of their favorite celebrities on property to enjoy the races. Rocker Sammy Hagar has a couple of important duties to perform throughout the weekend at PIR. On Friday, the former front man for rock group Van Halen will drive the honorary pace car to lead the Nationwide Series field to the green flag for the start of the Bashas' Supermarket 200.
Saturday night will find Hagar participating once again, but this time on the opposite end of the race action. Hagar will have the rare opportunity to throw the checkered flag over the Sprint Cup Series race winner, a duty typically reserved for a race official.
Hagar will be joined at the track on Saturday night by basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry, whose 15-year career was spent on the hardwoods of the NBA teams including the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. On Saturday night, Barry will climb behind the wheel to take to the asphalt as he will drive the honorary pace car to the lead the Sprint Cup Series competitors to the race-opening green flag.
On Thursday, PIR will also take an opportunity to honor their 2007 race winners, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, by inducting the pair of teammates into the track's Champion's Row, which is located outside of turns one and two.
FOX is scheduled to broadcast live television coverage of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The green flag is scheduled to fall at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway
Qualifying Record: Ryan Newman (135.854 mph, 26.499 seconds), November 5, 2004
Race Record: Tony Stewart (118.132 mph, 2 hours, 38 minutes, 28 seconds), November 7, 1999
2007 Winner: Jeff Gordon
Total Purse: $5,064,433
