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Ryan Blaney called for the fuel-saving racing at Daytona to be fixed.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Phoenix Raceway this weekend for a special crossover event with the NTT IndyCar Series. The two series will compete at the same track during the “Desert Double” weekend. IndyCar will race Saturday in the Good Ranchers 250, while the NASCAR Cup Series will run the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on Sunday.
The event places two different forms of racing on the same one-mile oval across two days. The weekend has drawn attention because it brings stock cars and open-wheel cars together at one venue.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney spoke about the format and said he would welcome more race weekends that feature both series.
Ryan Blaney Says Combo Weekends Help Racing Fans
Ryan Blaney spoke about the Phoenix weekend during an interview when he was asked about the idea of NASCAR and IndyCar sharing the same race weekend.
Blaney said he supports the idea because it brings different racing fans together at the same event.
“Personally, I would love it. I think it’s great for just the racing fan. Like, I never really understood. Like, people are like, I only watch NASCAR or Night IndyCar or vice versa. It’s like, if you’re a fan of racing, you’re a fan of racing. And this just brings everybody together.”
The Team Penske driver has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series for several seasons and won the 2023 championship. His team also competes in the IndyCar Series, which means the organization is active in both major racing divisions.
Doubleheader Weekend Expected to Draw Strong Crowds
The Desert Double format features two major races over the weekend. IndyCar drivers will race Saturday, and the NASCAR Cup Series field will compete the following day.
Blaney said he expects the shared weekend to create strong attendance for both races.
“So I think the crowd for both days are going to be fantastic just because it’s a doubleheader weekend. So, yeah, I would love to see more doubleheaders just because I like hanging out with those guys and watching them.”
Phoenix Raceway has hosted NASCAR races for decades and remains a key stop on the Cup Series schedule.
IndyCar previously raced at Phoenix, but the track left the schedule after the 2018 season. The return of the series this weekend brings open-wheel racing back to the Arizona track after several years away.
The combined weekend allows fans to watch two different types of racing on the same track.
Blaney Says Watching IndyCar at the Track is Easier
Blaney also explained that having IndyCar races at the same venue makes it easier for him to watch the series than when he follows it on television.
“It’s easier for me to watch than on TV if they’re here. They had a huge crowd with the trucks last weekend. Yeah, it’s great. It’s an awesome series. Yeah, I look up to those guys pretty hard.”
IndyCar drivers scheduled to compete this weekend include several top names from the series. They will race on the same one-mile oval that the NASCAR Cup Series drivers will use the next day.
The shared event gives fans a chance to watch both series over the same weekend. It also places drivers from two different racing styles at the same facility as the motorsports world gathers at Phoenix Raceway.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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