Figure 8 Races

Figure 8 Races return to the Grandstand Arena on Friday, October 23, as part of the Arizona State Fair. If you've never seen them, the name tells you exactly what's happening: cars racing on a track shaped like an 8, which means they're crossing paths in the middle on every single lap. It's the kind of thing that's easier to watch than to describe.

This isn't a one-off, either. The races run on two separate weekends: October 16 through 18, and then again October 23 through 25, so you've got a few different nights to pick from. Each session starts at 7 PM. If you can't make it the first weekend, the second one gives you another three chances to catch them.

The races are part of the Grandstand Series at the fair, which puts a whole lineup of events at the Grandstand Arena throughout the run. Along with the Figure 8, the arena hosts rodeos, bull riding, and monster truck shows, so if you're heading out for the cars, there's plenty else to see in the same spot. The fair itself is in its 142nd edition this year and runs through November 1, so you can easily pair the races with a full day of fair food and rides.

As for where to find it, the Grandstand Arena is inside the Arizona State Fair fairgrounds, on the northeast corner of 19th Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix. The races start at 7 PM each night.