NASCAR is in the Valley! Here's what you need to know

You can meet racers across the Valley this week leading up to the race.

Thursday,  November 12:

Brad Keselowski, 31 (Rochester Hills, MI)

Keselowski is the driver of the No. 2 Ford Fusion for Team Penske in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He will be making a pair of free, public appearances.

• Discount Tire at 4 p.m.
  • 9950 West McDowell Rd. in Avondale
• Tailgaters Litchfield at 7 p.m.
  • 5110 North Dysart Rd. in Litchfield

Ryan Reed, 22 (Bakersfield, CA) 

Reed is racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, driving the No. 16 Ford Fusion for Rousch Fenway Racing. 

• Cardon Children's Hospital at Banner Health from 6 to 7 p.m.
  • 1400 Dobson Rd. in Mesa

MORE: Traffic and fan guidelines for this weekend at PIR

Friday, November 13:

Paul Menard, 35 (Eau Calire, WI)

Menard drives the No. 33 Chevy Camaro for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

• Fanatics Trackside SuperStore at the Phoenix International Raceway at 2:45 p.m.
  • 7602 S Avondale Blvd, Avondale

Brian Scott, 27 (Boise, ID)

Scott is the driver of the No. 7 Chevy SS for Tommy Baldwin Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series

• Safeway pop-up grocery store, located inside the Cotton 2 Campground at the Phoenix International Raceway at 5:30 p.m.
  • 7602 S Avondale Blvd., Avodale

Saturday, November 14:

Alex Bowan, 22 (Tucson, AZ)

Bowman is a Tucson native who now races for Tommy Baldwin Racing. He'll drive the No. 7 Chevy SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

• Phoenix Children's Hospital from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
  • 1919 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix

The Drivers:

2015 Sprint Cup Series Drivers

2015 XFINITY Series Drivers

2015 Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR by the numbers: (According to statisticbrain.com)

• NASCAR stands for the "National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing." It was founded in 1948 and is now the lead governing body for stock car racing in the country.
• There are three national series: The Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck.
• A total of 36 races are scheduled for the Spring Cup Series. 
• Annual NASCAR revenue = $3.1 Billion
• There are an estimated 75 million NASCAR fans around the world with almost 100,000 average fans attending each race. 
• About 40% of the fan base are female. 
• An average NASCAR Driver's Salary (including endorsements) = $7.5 million
• Each racing car is worth an average of $1.5 million. 
• Phoenix is ranked No. 8 in top television rated NASCAR races. 

Additional Resources:

Complete schedule for Phoenix weekend of Sprint Cup series, XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway fan schedule

BUY TICKETS

Directions to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR)

Parking at PIR