Phoenix Raceway’s NASCAR weekend opened under gray skies Friday, March 7, as a cold front drenched the desert with 0.32 inches of rain, the area’s wettest day since July 2024. The showers delayed ARCA Menards Series practice ahead of its General Tire 150 race, raising concerns for Saturday’s Xfinity and Sunday’s Cup events.
But optimism brews. National Weather Service meteorologist Katherine Berislavich assured KTAR News 92.3 FM that Phoenix would “dry out over the weekend,” sparing NASCAR’s big races from prolonged delays.
Rain Tests Phoenix’s NASCAR Schedule Amid ARCA Delays
Friday’s downpour disrupted track activity, pushing ARCA’s practice session back hours. The series’ 8 p.m. ET race proceeded as scheduled, but not without drama.
“Can’t make this up. #NASCAR is in town,” tweeted motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck, sharing a screenshot of the weather update and a photo of rain-soaked grandstands.
Can’t make this up. #NASCAR is in town. pic.twitter.com/EkZSgzHSaU
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 7, 2025
The Cup and Xfinity Series avoided Friday’s worst weather, though NASCAR’s dry-weather tires remain a liability if showers return. Unlike last year’s option tires at Richmond and Loudon, which added strategy layers, Goodyear’s Phoenix rubber isn’t designed for wet conditions.
Clear Skies Set Stage for Phoenix’s Championship Contenders
By Saturday, sunshine and 66°F temperatures are forecasted, with Sunday peaking near 75°F.
“Into the weekend, the trough is forecasted to move eastward, with an upper-level ridge taking its place. This will lead to clear skies for the rest of the weekend!” Race Weather reported, easing fears of a repeat of 2020’s rain-marred Texas race.
Three winless Cup drivers eye breakthroughs under the drying Arizona sun:
- Tyler Reddick: Four Phoenix top 10s but no wins.
- Ryan Blaney: The 2023 Cup champ finished second here last fall.
- Chase Elliott: The 2020 Phoenix winner seeks redemption after a sluggish start
Defending race winner Christopher Bell and Daytona 500 champ William Byron loom as favorites. But cooler track temps could shuffle the field, rewarding tire management over raw speed.
For now, NASCAR dodges a washout. But as Gluck’s tweet highlighted, even desert races aren’t immune to nature’s curveballs.