Firebird Motorsports Park (formerly Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and Firebird International Raceway) is a 450-acre (180 ha) motorsport racing complex, located in Chandler, Arizona, United States, about southeast of downtown Phoenix.
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 race, the Arizona 300.
In December 1992, Three-time Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna tested an IndyCar on the East Course with Team Penske. 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 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.
Track officials announced that the track would change the name of the facility to Firebird Motorsports Park which is a reference to the original name of the facility.
Track records
Race lap records The fastest official race lap records at the Firebird Motorsports Park are listed as:
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent East Course (1983–present): IMSA GTO 0:56.920 Willy T. Ribbs Toyota Celica Turbo 1987 Arizona 300 IMSA GTU 1:01.290 Lee Mueller Nissan 300ZX 1987 Arizona 300 Trans-Am 1:02.190 Willy T. Ribbs Mercury Capri 1985 Firebird Trans-Am round
Drag strip records CategoryE.T.SpeedDriverEventRefTop Fuel 3.643 Brittany Force 2020 NHRA Arizona Nationals Brittany Force 2020 NHRA Arizona NationalsFunny Car 3.823 Matt Hagan 2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals Courtney Force 2018 NHRA Arizona NationalsPro Stock 6.498 Mike Edwards 2013 NHRA Arizona Nationals Mike Edwards 2013 NHRA Arizona Nationals
Layout configurations
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Winners Year Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock 1985 Gene Snow John Collins Bob Glidden 1986 Dick Lahaie Kenny Bernstein Bob Glidden 1987 Dick Lahaie Mark Oswald Bob Glidden 1988 Eddie Hill Mike Dunn Bob Glidden 1989 Shirley Muldowney Bruce Larson Darrell Alderman 1990 Joe Amato Dale Pulde Bob Glidden 1991 Kenny Bernstein Jim White Darrell Alderman 1992 Pat Austin Tom Hoover Jerry Eckman 1993 Eddie Hill Cruz Pedregon Mark Pawak 1994 Cory McClenathan John Force Scott Geoffrion 1995 Larry Dixon Jr. John Force Darrell Alderman 1996 Kenny Bernstein John Force Jim Yates 1997 Gary Scelzi John Force Jim Yates 1998 Cory McClenathan Chuck Etchells Warren Johnson 1999 Joe Amato John Force Kurt Johnson 2000 Tony Schumacher John Force Jeg Couglin Jr. 2001 Doug Kalitta John Force Warren Johnson 2002 Tony Schumacher Del Worsham Bruce Allen 2003 Brandon Bernstein Ron Capps Greg Anderson 2004 Brandon Bernstein Del Worsham Kurt Johnson 2005 Tony Schumacher John Force Allen Johnson 2006 Rod Fuller Tommy Johnson Jr. Warren Johnson 2007 Rod Fuller Tony Pedregon Kurt Johnson 2008 Larry Dixon Jr. Jack Beckman Vieri Gaines 2009 Antron Brown Ron Capps Jeg Coughlin Jr. 2010 Cory McClenathan Jack Beckman Mike Edwards 2011 Del Worsham Mike Neff Jason Line 2012 Antron Brown Robert Hight Jason Line 2013 Tony Schumacher Ron Capps Erica Enders 2014 Antron Brown Alexis DeJoria Allen Johnson 2015 Tony Schumacher Matt Hagan Rodger Brogden 2016 Leah Pruett Tim Wilkerson Jason Line 2017 Leah Pruett Matt Hagan Greg Anderson 2018 Steve Torrence Courtney Force Chris McGaha 2019 Billy Torrence Matt Hagan Jeg Coughlin Jr. 2020 Steve Torrence Tommy Johnson Jr. Erica Enders 2021 No event held. 2022 Mike Salinas Robert Hight Aaron Stanfield 2023 Justin Ashley Robert Hight Camrie Caruso 2024 Shawn Langdon Austin Prock Greg Anderson 2025 Shawn Langdon Paul Lee Greg Anderson 2026 Shawn Langdon Ron Capps Dallas Glenn
References
External links Firebird Motorsports Park Official Website World Sports Racing Prototypes - 1987 IMSA GT Championship results