OSN Column: NASCAR Coming To Portland International Raceway In 2022 – What You Need To Know
Are you ready for NASCAR racing in Portland? You should be as the NASCAR Xfinity Series is coming to Portland International Raceway (PIR) in June of 2022. NASCAR announced this past week that the Xfinity Series would be racing at PIR as part of the revamped schedule that, like this season, includes more road courses.
The NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series made regular stops at the venue during the 90s, but last raced at PIR in 2000. The ARCA Menards Series, now owned by NASCAR, has raced at PIR several times since 1986, as well as the NASCAR K&N West Series. The track has also hosted the IndyCar Series and races under the IMSA umbrella.
And for stock car historians, the NASCAR Cup Series ran at the former Portland Speedway back in the 1950s. Now the Portland area will once again see stock-car style green-flag racing which could include some of the sport’s biggest names. That’s because the race weekend will fall into a portion of the regular season schedule, meaning drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series could choose to participate.
Portland International Raceway Info
Opened: 1960
Type: Road Course
Length: 1.99 miles
Turns: 12
Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
The addition of PIR to the 2022 Xfinity schedule is made possible from a slight realignment of tracks. Mid Ohio Sports Car Course will now be on the schedule for the Camping World Truck Series race. That frees up a date on the Xfinity calendar, which makes the move to PIR a reality.
According to media reports, Ben Kennedy – NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation – said the time had come to add PIR to the schedule.
“I think why now from a timing perspective, we’ve looked at the Pacific Northwest really since we started off in building out the 2021 schedule,” said Kennedy. “I’ve had the opportunity to go out to Seattle and Portland and look at a number of different opportunities and, seeing that we had a good relationship with Green Savoree and Kevin Savoree, it felt like it was a good opportunity for us to explore it in 2022 and bring it on the Xfinity Series schedule and really make a special weekend there in early June.”
Racing promotions company Green Savoree has helped bring many racing venues online in both the NASCAR and IndyCar worlds. Kevin Savoree of Green Sovoree stated he was happy to announce that his organization had a hand in bringing NASCAR back to the area.
“What an exciting day for Portland and Pacific Northwest race fans. This region of the country hasn’t had a visit from a NASCAR national series in over two decades. We are thrilled the wait is over,” Savoree, co-owner, president, and chief operating officer of Green Savoree Portland LLC, stated. “When the NASCAR Xfinity Series stops at PIR next June, it will deliver great racing and strong economic impact to the region.”
