Phoenix Raceway celebrates military and veterans throughout Can-Am 500 weekend

Phoenix Raceway will cap off a weekend full of Veterans Day recognition with the first four-plane flyover featuring two F-16 and two F-35 fighter jets from Luke Air Force Base. The fall race at PIR traditionally lands on Veterans Day weekend, and for the 2016 Can-Am 500 race, Phoenix Raceway will recognize veterans both on and off the track.

With the help of Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix Raceway will add to the excitement of last year’s first F-35 flyover, by not only adding another F-35 but also two F-16 fighter jets. The flyover is scheduled to begin at the conclusion of the national anthem prior to the start of the Can-Am 500.

Also, the national anthem for the Can-Am 500 on Sunday, Nov. 13 will be performed by SFC Dana J. Fischl, US Army Military Intelligence Corps Band Training and Operations – Fort Huachuca, during the pre-race ceremonies.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, Phoenix Raceway will team up with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to bring NASCAR drivers to the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stars Cameron Hayley and Ben Rhodes join NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Brendan Gaughan and Joey Gase for an autograph session and tour of the Community Living Center where they will visit with local veterans.

Prior to the Lucas Oil 150 on Friday, Nov. 11, Jamie Manker, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans, will be recognized as an honorary race official.

Phoenix Raceway has also worked with long-standing partner Vet Tix to provide race tickets to all branches of currently-serving military and veterans, including family of troops KIA. This year, PIR, along with track partners Anheuser-Busch and Ticket Galaxy, teamed up to provide over 500 tickets to be donated through the Vet Tix program. Please visit VetTix.org for more information.

As the semifinal race in the Chase for the top-three series in NASCAR, Phoenix Raceway is set to become an even more dramatic destination in this year’s NASCAR season, as the Chase format was extended to both the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. For the first time ever, each race during the Can-Am 500 weekend will determine the final four contenders that will advance to compete for each series’ title – the #Phoenix4.

Tickets for the Can-Am 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race start at just $35 and are available online at PhoenixRaceway.com, by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or in person at the PIR ticket office.

PIR PR