| Venue | Phoenix International Raceway |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Subway |
| First race | 2005 |
| Distance | 312 miles (502.115 km) |
| Laps | 312 |
| Previous names | Subway Fresh 500 (2005–2006) Subway Fresh Fit 500 (2007–2009, 2011) Subway Fresh Fit 600 (2010) |
The Subway Fresh Fit 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. A 312-lap event that is one of only four NASCAR Cup Series events measured in kilometers rather than miles or laps (joining the fall Phoenix race (500 km) and both road course events (both 350 km), the 500 km race currently starts at 3:00 pm EST and will finish during the day.
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As part of the 2005 NASCAR Realignment, a second date was awarded to Phoenix with Subway sponsorship. As there was already a race sponsored by Subway on the schedule (the now TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville), the name "Subway Fresh 500" was devised to reduce confusion. Subway later added the word "Fit" to the sponsorship to promote its Fresh Fit combo choices.
With the new 2010 NASCAR start time rule change that starts races only at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 7:30 pm Eastern Time, track officials were concerned that the new start time (45 minutes earlier than in the past) would put the majority of the race in the day instead of the planned night. At that time of year in Phoenix, sunset takes place at roughly 7 pm MST (because Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, this is the same as Pacific Daylight Time). As a result, the race was stretched to 600 kilometers so that the extra 100 kilometers would take place during the day, and most of the race would still take place at night as planned.[1] However, in 2011, the race will move one week after the Daytona 500 in February. The race returned to 500 km/ 312 laps and will run on Sunday in the daytime for the first time.
| Year | Date | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||
| 2005 | April 23 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 3:02:16 | 102.707 |
| 2006 | April 22 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 2:54:51 | 107.063 |
| 2007 | April 21 | Jeff Gordon* | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 2:53:48 | 107.71 |
| 2008 | April 12 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 3:01:14 | 103.292 |
| 2009 | April 18 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 2:53:16 | 108.042 |
| 2010 | April 10 | Ryan Newman | Stewart Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 378* | 378 (608.332) | 3:48:14 | 99.372 |
| 2011 | February 27 | Jeff Gordon* | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 312 (502.115) | 3:01:49 | 102.961 |
| Rank | Manufacturer | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 2 | Ford | 1 |
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