In 1983, Charlie Allen, Dick Scott and Bill Guptill got together and unveiled what would become the most diverse and exciting motorsports facility in the world. Since that time, more than 3,500,000 visitors have passed through the gates of Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. Whether it is NHRA Winston Drag Racing, IHBA Mission Foods Championship Drag Boat Racing, UHRA Unlimited Hydroplane Racing or countless number of other events such as APS Electric Car Racing, Bug-O-Rama Rallys, SCCA Road Races, CCS Motorcycle events, Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Indy and Indy Light Testing and so much more, fans have grown to love Firebird and its premier facility.
As the only racetrack in the country that hosts racing on the asphalt quartermile and the liquid quartermile, Firebird International Raceway continues its commitment to it visitors. Each year improvements are made to the facility. New grandstand seating areas, VIP Suite Towers, road courses and hospitality and pavilion areas keep Firebird a favourite among its clientele.
In 1996, Firebird International Raceway's NHRA ATSCO Nationals was named the fastest growing NHRA event on the 23-stop tour. By 1997, attendance figures during the event broke all-time records with a weekend crowd of 71,898. Increased attendance at that event and many of Firebird's other season-favourites placed Firebird International Raceway as the sixth largest sporting attraction in the entire state of Arizona.
Firebird has an action-packed event schedule - in January, NHRA touring pro's work out the kinks during the National Time Trials; February is the month the NHRA national event makes its stop in Phoenix; April is boat racing month as the newly founded Lakefest features hydroplanes, drag boats, circle boats and more; May features the Funny Cars as 32 of them roll into town; June features an all-American celebration with Robosaurus, Bigfoot, Jet dragsters, Funny Cars, stunts and so much more; October features NHRA Federal-Mogul Sportsman and November is when the biggest drag boat race in the world takes place.
The most exciting venue in the Southwest provides thrilling moments all year round. Records fall at record-paces at Firebird. In January of 1997, Kenny Bernstein powered his Top Fuel Dragster down the quartermile and posted a top speed of 320 mph during testing. Three months later, the late-Tom Cantrell powered his Top Fuel Hydro boat down the liquid quartermile at 241 mph.
To make sure fans never miss a moment, they can take advantage of season tickets, group ticketing programs and other discounts available at local retailers. Local and national firms can also take advantage of Firebird's many lucrative marketing opportunities.
