Our RaceAway Hospitality group had an incredible weekend at Phoenix Raceway for the 2025 Phoenix Shriners Children’s 500. We spent Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the one-mile desert oval in Avondale, Arizona, watching Christopher Bell make a late charge and grab the checkered flag for his third win of the season. From my host seat, it was exactly what we hope for from our Phoenix Raceway NASCAR tour: bright Arizona sunshine, organized logistics, and a dramatic finish that had everyone on their feet.
Getting Our Phoenix Group Ready
I’m Jamie, your detail-loving RaceAway host, and I had the pleasure of looking after a really nice mix of long-time RaceAway friends and fun first-timers on this trip. Our home base for the weekend was the Embassy Suites – Tempe, a convenient all-suite hotel about 30 miles from Phoenix Raceway. With plenty of space to spread out and an easy lobby meeting spot, it worked perfectly for our race group.
I arrived Friday evening and spent time in the lobby greeting guests as they checked in and walking everyone through the weekend plan. I’m big on having a clear schedule without making anyone feel rushed. My motto is, “If we are organized, you can stay in vacation mode.” We talked about departure times, cooler and bag rules, and the optional Saturday add-on so that by bedtime everyone knew what the next two days would look like.
On Saturday, guests who added the prepaid track transport and tickets joined me in the lobby for our 11:00 AM charter to the track. We settled in for the roughly 60-minute ride to Phoenix Raceway, with a restroom on the bus, no smoking, and yes, you could bring a beverage along. We arrived in time for Cup Series qualifying at 1:10 PM and the GOVX 200 Xfinity Series race at 3:00 PM, which gave guests a full afternoon of on-track action to start the weekend.
Race Day: From Tempe to the Desert Oval
Sunday was the main event. I asked everyone to meet in the lobby a little before 8:00 AM so we could depart on time for the Shriners Children’s 500. With Phoenix Raceway about 30 miles away, we again planned on about an hour’s drive. Before we pulled out, I did a quick headcount, reminded folks to display their RaceAway lanyards when boarding, and checked that everyone had their tickets, because forgetting those is the one kind of excitement we do not need.
On the way to the track, I reviewed what guests could bring through the gates. As of March 2025:
- Soft-sided coolers no larger than 14 inches; no alcohol or glass allowed by Arizona law.
- Backpacks, clutch bags, fanny packs, or clear plastic bags up to 18″ x 18″ x 4″, with no loose ice inside.
Everything is subject to search at the gate, and concessions and merchandise are cashless, so I encouraged everyone to double-check their cards and mobile-pay setups before we climbed off the bus.
Guests with pre-race Infield Experience passes entered through the Tunnel of Triumph near Turn 4 and the Desert Diamond Casino Canyon, getting that up-close look at pit road and pre-race activity before making their way back to the stands for driver introductions. Others headed straight to the grandstands, grabbed some food, and settled in for a full afternoon of racing.
By 12:05 PM, driver introductions were underway and the energy around the track really ramped up. At 12:30 PM, the green flag flew for 312 laps (500 kilometers) around the one-mile desert oval. From our seats, guests had a great view of the entire track, watching lines develop, passes being set up off Turn 2, and pit crews earning their keep along pit road.
Bell’s Late Charge and Guest Reactions
The 2025 Phoenix Shriners Children’s 500 delivered the kind of race day we love to see: lead changes, long green-flag runs that made tire strategy matter, and restarts that bunched the field back together and had everyone holding their breath. Through the middle stages, a handful of drivers traded control, but as the laps wound down, Christopher Bell’s car really came alive.
Our group followed his progress as he worked his way to the front, timing passes just right and taking full advantage of late-race track position and pit calls. Those closing laps were intense, with Bell under pressure but steady, holding off challengers to secure his third win of the season. When the checkered flag waved, our section was buzzing, excited to have seen that kind of late charge in person under the Arizona sun.
After the weekend, Jeff F. sent a note that really made me smile: “Just to let you know how much Nancy and I enjoyed our experience with you this weekend. It was her first NASCAR race and you did a super job from start to finish. Thank you.” For me, that is the best feedback, especially hearing that a first-time fan like Nancy felt taken care of from beginning to end.
Highlights from Our 2025 Phoenix Weekend
- Comfortable all-suite accommodations at Embassy Suites – Tempe, giving guests space to relax before and after race day.
- Organized, hosted charter transportation to Phoenix Raceway on both Saturday and Sunday, with clear departure times and restrooms on board.
- Optional Saturday add-on with Cup qualifying and the GOVX 200 Xfinity Series race to kick off the weekend.
- Clear guidance on cooler and bag rules, infield access, and cashless purchases so guests could navigate the track with confidence.
- A fun mix of returning guests and new race fans, including first-timers like Nancy, experiencing Phoenix’s unique desert atmosphere.
- Christopher Bell’s late-race charge to the win in the 2025 Phoenix Shriners Children’s 500, giving our group a dramatic finish under the Arizona sun.
Wrapping Up a Desert Race Day to Remember
As we rolled back to Tempe after the race, the bus had that satisfied, post-race hum, with people scrolling through photos, comparing videos, and talking about their favorite moves and moments. For me, as a long-time RaceAway host, weekends like this are exactly what I enjoy most: a solid plan, a friendly group, and on-track action that lives up to the hype.
If you are thinking about joining us for a future Phoenix NASCAR weekend or exploring other RaceAway NASCAR travel packages, I would be happy to have you along. I will keep the logistics organized so you can focus on the racing, the sunshine, and the memories you will take home.