Editing Phoenix Raceway (section)

=== Planning and construction ===
[[File:J. C. Agajanian 1953 (cropped).jpg|alt=refer to caption|thumb|230x230px|Motorsports promoter [[J. C. Agajanian]] (pictured in 1953) convinced track founder Richard Hogue to build an oval on Phoenix Raceway's complex; Hogue's initial plans for the facility only included a road course.|left]]
On July 10, 1963, ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''{{'s}} Frank Gianelli reported that a group formed by businessman Richard Hogue acquired a {{Convert|320|acre|ha|adj=on}} plot of land originally used to grow cotton in [[Sierra Estrella|Estrella Mountains]].<ref name=":1324492" /><ref name=":132445">{{Cite news |date=March 16, 1964 |title=New International Raceway Cotton Field 6 Months Ago |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-new-international-r/157851454/ |access-date=October 27, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> With the purchase, the group made plans to build a US$500,000 (adjusted for inflation, ${{Inflation|index=USD|value=500000|start_year=1963|r=0|fmt=c}}) motorsports complex including a {{Convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} oval, a {{Convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} road course, and a [[dragstrip]] under the name of Phoenix International Raceway (PIR).<ref name=":1324492">{{Cite news |last=Gianelli |first=Frank |date=July 10, 1963 |title=New Raceway Due |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-new-raceway-due/157821823/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Initially, Hogue only originally considered building the road course, but was convinced to add an oval to the facility by racing promoter [[J. C. Agajanian]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Triplett |first=Kevin |date=October 7, 2016 |title=The construction of Phoenix International Raceway |url=http://triplettracehistory.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-constructionof-phoenix.html |access-date=December 19, 2024 |website=Kevin Triplett's Racing History |language=en}}</ref> The plan immediately faced opposition from the competing [[Arizona State Fairgrounds]], who wished to pave their track in order to continue hosting [[United States Auto Club]] (USAC) races despite PIR officials wanting to collaborate with Fairgrounds officials.<ref name=":13244922">{{Cite news |date=July 16, 1963 |title=Race Interests Fail to Agree |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-race-interests-fail/157823122/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> However, the Fairgrounds' paving plan was vetoed unanimously by the Arizona Fair Commission on August 26. On the same day, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors passed a permit to begin PIR construction, in the process effectively causing the Fair's shutdown.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":13244923">{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1963 |title=Commission Vetoes Paving Fairground Oval |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-commission-vetoes-p/157827132/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>  

Groundbreaking took place on September 19, with Hogue stating at a groundbreaking interview that "we'll be racing by late November or early December".<ref name=":13244924">{{Cite news |date=September 13, 1963 |title=Race Track To Get Start |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-race-track-to-get-s/157827381/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=57 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=":13244925">{{Cite news |last=Gianelli |first=Frank |date=September 20, 1963 |title=Track Shows Early Speed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-track-shows-early-s/157827420/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=37 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In November, Hogue announced the first events for the track, with [[Sports Car Club of America]] (SCCA) and [[NASCAR Cup Series|NASCAR Grand National Series]] events being announced for December and January 1964, respectively.<ref name=":13244">{{Cite news |last=Rowe |first=Jack |date=November 16, 1963 |title=Sports Car Corner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-sports-car-corner/157851385/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[Tucson Citizen]] |pages=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=":132442">{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1963 |title=150-Miler Will Open Race Plant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-150-miler-will-open/157827157/ |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=55 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> However, the track's opening was pushed back to January 4 due to construction delays.<ref name=":132443">{{Cite news |last=Rowe |first=Jack |date=November 23, 1963 |title=Sports Car Corner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-citizen-sports-car-corner/157878868/ |access-date=October 27, 2024 |work=[[Tucson Citizen]] |pages=43 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> By the end of the year, with paving complete, the facility was approved for SCCA, USAC, and [[National Hot Rod Association]] (NHRA) events.<ref name=":132444">{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Tracy |date=December 29, 1963 |title=Phoenix Raceway To Open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-phoenix-raceway-to-op/157940114/ |access-date=October 27, 2024 |work=[[Arizona Daily Star]] |pages=C5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> At the end of the facility's construction, the entire complex cost approximately US$1 million (adjusted for inflation, ${{Inflation|index=USD|value=1000000|start_year=1964|r=0|fmt=c}}) to build.<ref name=":1324413">{{Cite news |last=Gianelli |first=Frank |date=March 21, 1964 |title=PIR Builder Man of Vision |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-pir-builder-man-of/158170382/ |access-date=October 31, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=57 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=":1324415">{{Cite news |last=Dean |first=Paul |date=April 16, 1964 |title=Hot Ride on Road Course |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-hot-ride-on-road-co/158169473/ |access-date=October 31, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |pages=47 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>