Glendale’s McDowell on the Impact of NASCAR Championship at Phoenix Raceway

Over the past six years, Michael McDowell’s home state has hosted the NASCAR Championship. The 40-year-old grew up in Glendale, racing at PKRA, and winning at his home track on the defunct road course in the Star Mazda Series, had his hometown declare a Michael McDowell Day, and then host the NASCAR Championship for six years.

McDowell reflects on his first year at Spire Motorsports, what it meant for NASCAR to host the Championship at Phoenix Raceway, and what it would take to win in the event’s farewell.

NASCAR will still return to Phoenix Raceway in 2026 in a joint event with IndyCar March 5-8, and in the NASCAR Playoffs, October 16-18. The NASCAR Cup Series Championship race will air at 1:00 pm on NBC.