2018 Whelen Trusted to Perform 200

ISM Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

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 practice session was held on Friday, November 9, at 12:35 PM MST, and would last for 50 minutes.^[2] Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest lap in the session with a time of 27.210 and an average speed of 132.304 miles per hour (212.923 km/h).^[3]

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, November 9, at 2:35 PM MST, and would last for 50 minutes.^[2] John Hunter Nemechek of Chip Ganassi Racing would set the fastest lap in the session with a time of 27.053 and an average speed of 133.072 miles per hour (214.159 km/h).^[3]