NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon recently shared his assessment of Phoenix Raceway as a NASCAR Cup Series championship venue, highlighting a sharp contrast between its modern infrastructure and the on-track competition it produces. Speaking in remarks shared on Monday, MotorBiscuit reported via Sports Business Journal journalist Adam Stern that Gordon finds the Arizona venue exceptional outside the racing groove itself.
“I like Phoenix, and the facilities and everything that they’ve improved there is a great place for a final race,” Gordon said, according to the published comments. However, the four-time Cup Series champion and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman added a notable caveat regarding the competition: “We know the racing on the track just can’t quite deliver, and I wish that were different.”
Venue History and the Shift Back to Homestead
Gordon’s critique arrives as the NASCAR Cup Series calendar undergoes significant venue shifts. Phoenix Raceway hosted the championship finale annually from 2020 through 2025, becoming a central fixture of the sport’s postseason. However, the title race returned this year to Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval south of Miami that previously held the finale every year from 2002 through 2019.
The return to Homestead coincided with a revised postseason format for the sport. Kyle Larson secured the championship under the revived Chase format after Stage 1, while Ryan Blaney won the race itself by passing Tyler Reddick with two laps remaining, finishing 0.314 seconds ahead. Homestead has already locked in its hosting duties for the 2027 title race, scheduled for November 14, backed by a planned $20 million infrastructure renovation.
Phoenix’s Place on Future Schedules
Despite Gordon’s critique of its racing product, Phoenix Raceway remains firmly on the NASCAR schedule. The 1-mile circuit hosted two Cup races during the 2026 season, including a high-stakes postseason round on October 18 where Larson finished 34th—a result that sharply reduced his points lead from 49 points down to just five. Looking ahead to next season, the 2027 postseason will open at Richmond Raceway on September 11, with the final seven playoff venues carrying over unchanged from the current season.
Gordon brings extensive personal history to both tracks. Beyond his executive role at Hendrick Motorsports—which celebrated its 16th Cup championship with Larson’s title—Gordon won the 2012 season finale at Homestead and drove his final full-time Cup race at the Florida track in 2015 as a championship contender. His perspective underscores ongoing debates within the motorsport community regarding which venues best combine spectator amenities with competitive, multi-groove racing for a season finale.