Scottsdale to Host NASCAR Awards Following 2025 Championship Weekend
NASCAR has confirmed that its annual year-end NASCAR Awards ceremony will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 4, 2025, immediately following Championship Weekend.
This marks a first for Arizona, as the Awards — which celebrate the season’s champions in the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series — have never before been hosted in the state.
What’s Changing
The Awards will happen just two days after NASCAR crowns its Cup Series champion at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 2, 2025. The move to Scottsdale aims to create a more seamless transition from the excitement of Championship Weekend into the celebration of the season’s top performers. The red-carpet event and awards ceremony will be streamed live at 6:00 p.m. ET on The NASCAR Channel, which is free and ad-supported via platforms including Xumo Play, Tubi, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Prime Video.
Why Scottsdale?
According to NASCAR EVP and Chief Brand Officer Tim Clark, Scottsdale offers “the perfect backdrop” for the 2025 Awards, citing its scenery, hospitality, and its proximity to Phoenix’s Championship Weekend.
Beyond aesthetics, the decision reflects NASCAR’s continued push to expand its presence in new markets and to deliver memorable, exciting experiences tied closely to its biggest events.
What About Other Series?
While the marquee national series (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks) will be honored at the Scottsdale event, NASCAR also announced that its Regional and International Series Awards (including ARCA, Whelen Modified, Weekly Series, and NASCAR’s international championships such as NASCAR Canada, Brasil, Mexico, and Euro Series) will continue to be celebrated separately. That event is set for November 21, 2025, at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina.
What This Means for Fans and Stakeholders
For fans: Greater access. The livestream offers free participation for audiences across the U.S., and for those in or visiting the Southwest, attending the event in person presents a new opportunity. For teams and media: Logistically, the shift west may require some adjustments, but tying the Awards more closely to Championship Weekend could streamline travel and exposure. For NASCAR’s strategy: The move underscores the organization’s interest in diversifying event locations, perhaps positioning Scottsdale as a future recurring venue for major ceremonies. It shows balancing tradition (Charlotte, previous host cities) with innovation in experience and geography.
What to Watch
Which champions and drivers emerge victorious in the 2025 season, and how their achievements will be recognized. How the atmosphere and fan engagement in Scottsdale compare to past ceremonies. The local culture, setting, and proximity to Phoenix may deliver a noticeably different feel. How NASCAR’s regional and international series are integrated into its year-end recognition structure going forward.
This year’s shift to Scottsdale signals that NASCAR is not just celebrating its champions — it’s also rethinking where and how it celebrates them. November 4 in Scottsdale will mark a historic chapter in that evolution.
