The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
ISM Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and penultimate track on the schedule.
The first 50-minute practice session would occur on Friday, March 9, at 12:05 PM MST.[2]Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest lap in the session with a time of 26.892 and an average speed of 133.869 miles per hour (215.441 km/h).[3]
The second and final 50-minute practice session would occur on Friday, March 9, at 2:05 PM MST.[2]Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste would set the fastest lap in the session with a time of 27.393 and an average speed of 131.420 miles per hour (211.500 km/h).[3]
Qualifying would take place on Saturday, March 10, at 11:05 AM MST. [2] Since ISM Raceway is under 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.[4]
Justin Allgaier would win the pole after making through both preliminary rounds and setting a time of 26.896 and an average speed of 133.849 miles per hour (215.409 km/h) in the third round.[5] No drivers would fail to qualify,
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