during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York.

Racetrack to change its name after announcing huge sponsorship deal


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Former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick has the most Cup Series victories ever at Phoenix International Raceway with eight, but the race on Nov. 12th will be the last time he'll get the chance to extend his win total at PIR.

This is because PIR will become ISM Raceway beginning in 2018 thanks to a hefty investment made by Ingenuity Sun Media (ISM). According to the Arizona Republic, ISM's investment could potentially reach as much as $10 million per year over 10 years -- $100 million total.

With this deal, PIR will join Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, Calif., as the only other track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup schedule that has a corporate identity.

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ISM also plans to make a number of high-tech improvements to the track, including the addition of a mobile app, digital display screens, a new pedestrian tunnel, and more ways for fans to experience and interact with the facility via social media.

If you watched this week's NASCAR race at New Hampshire, which was won by Kyle Busch, then you probably noticed that ISM Connect also sponsored that particular race. In addition, earlier this year ISM began partnering with the International Speedway Corp., which happens to be the parent company of PIR.

The new agreement between ISM and PIR is expected to officially be announced on Tuesday.

This means Harvick and the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series drivers will have just over a month to prepare for one last race at Phoenix International Raceway.

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