Arizona State Fairgrounds

The Arizona Territorial Fair Association purchased property in the Encanto district of Phoenix, Arizona in 1905 to host the state fair that continues today. A one-mile dirt oval was built by 1910 which held its first AAA-sanctioned race five years later. What is now known as the IndyCar Series returned in 1950 with an annual end-of-season event held until racing ceased in 1963. Jack McGrath had been killed during the 1955 race and poor track conditions contributed to further tragedy six years later. Ray Crawford was seriously injured during qualifying, and Al Keller died when his car hit a rut in Turn 4 and rolled during the race. The event was replaced by the newly built Phoenix Raceway in 1964. A new 0.125-mile dirt oval opened at the fairgrounds in 1985.