Nov 10, 2013; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (29) wins the AdvoCare 500 race at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

As the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway, those of us at Beyond the Flag thought it would be appropriate to give our readers a little history lesson on this Arizona racetrack.

Here are five things you didn’t know about PIR:

1: Phoenix used to have a 2.5 mile road course in the center of the track. This course ran on both the inside and the outside of the main tri-oval. The road course was removed and replaced with a 1.51 mile road course that ran through the infield of the track.

Phoenix International Raceway 2.5 mile road course.

2: The track officially opened in 1964 but it wasn’t until 1988 that the first NASCAR Cup Series race was held at the track.

3: One of two of NASCAR’s “perfect weekends” have been accomplished at PIR. Carl Edwards was fastest in every practice, won the pole, lead the most laps and won the race at PIR in 2010.

4: The “Polish Victory Lap” was created at PIR by Alan Kulwicki after the first Cup race at the track.

5: Jeff Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt Sr’s win total at 76 with his victory at PIR in 2007. He celebrated this by carrying the No.3 flag around the track for his victory lap.