Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is a 450-acre (180 ha) motorsport racing complex, located in

Chandler Chandler or The Chandler may refer to: * Chandler (occupation), originally head of the medieval household office responsible for candles, now a person who makes or sells candles * Ship chandler, a dealer in supplies or equipment for ships Arts ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

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, about southeast of downtown

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

History

The facility opened as Firebird International Raceway in 1983. In 1985, Firebird hosted the NHRA Fallnationals, the first National NHRA event held at the complex. Gene Snow would win the Top Fuel championship while Bob Glidden clinched the 1985 NHRA world championship. On May 17, 1987, it held its only

IMSA GT IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States, and occasionally in Canada. History The series was founded in 1969 by John and Peggy Bishop, and Bill F ...

race, the Arizona 300. In December 1992, Three-time Formula One Champion

Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna da Silva (; 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions, World Drivers' Championship in , , and . Senna is one of three Formula One drivers fro ...

tested an

IndyCar INDYCAR, LLC, is an American-based auto racing sanctioning body for Indy car racing and other disciplines of open wheel car racing. The organization sanctions five racing series: the premier IndyCar Series with its centerpiece the Indianapolis ...

on the East Course with

Team Penske Team Penske (formerly Penske Racing) is an American professional auto racing organization, competing in the IndyCar Series, NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Debuting at the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona ...

. Senna was intrigued, but eventually decided to stay in Formula One. In March 2013, it was announced that the land owner, the Gila River Indian Community and the operator of Firebird International Raceway, Charlie Allen could not reach an agreement on a lease extension and that the complex would close in April. The complex would stay closed throughout March until the Gila River Indian Community announced that they signed a lease agreement with a new operator in June, the complex would change names from Firebird International Raceway to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, named after the neighboring

tribal casino Native American gaming comprises casinos, bingo halls, and other gambling operations on Indian reservations or other tribal lands in the United States. Because these areas have tribal sovereignty, states have limited ability to forbid gambling th ...

and resort Wild Horse Pass while also receiving an investment of more than $1 million in renovations, including repaving the drag-strip. On Feb 22, 2014, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park would reopen and host its first event since closing, the NHRA Arizona National. In March 2022, it was announced that Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park would close in February 2023, after NHRA Arizona Nationals, due to the widening of Interstate 10. Radford Racing School and the Radford Racing course will remain open after Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park closes.

Circuits

File:WHP Motorsports Park Main Full.png, Main Course File:WHP Motorsports Park West Full.png, West Course File:WHP Motorsports Park East Full.png, East Course File:WHP Motorsports Park Bondurant Full.png, Radford Racing Course File:WHP Motorsports Park Boundrant West Main Combined.png, West, Radford Racing and Main Courses combined

References

External links

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World Sports Racing Prototypes
- 1987 IMSA GT Championship results NHRA Division 7 drag racing venues Motorsport venues in Arizona Buildings and structures in Chandler, Arizona Transportation in Chandler, Arizona IMSA GT Championship circuits Sports venues in Maricopa County, Arizona Off-road racing venues in the United States 1983 establishments in Arizona Sports venues completed in 1983 {{water-sport-stub