Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Rebrands to Firebird Motorsports Park
With support from the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority and the Gila River Indian Community, the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is now Firebird Motorsports Park. Along with the name change also comes a new logo. The facility, located at 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., in Chandler, will be led by track manager Casey Buckman and business administrator Connie Bopp, who combined bring more than 50 years of motorsports industry experience.
“As someone who grew up going to events at the facility when it was called Firebird, I am excited to be honoring the history of the past 40 years and look forward to adding to the legacy for years to come,” says Buckman.
The world-class facility offers three road course circuits, acres of pavement for autocross and skidpad use, ¼ mile NHRA Drag Strip, drag boat racing, off-road truck racing, and more.
NHRA has announced its return to Firebird Motorsports Park for the 2024 season for the 39th Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals on April 5 to 7, solidifying its continued history of NHRA drag racing at the track.
The Firebird Motorsports Park is excited to welcome events such as NHRA, Travis Pastrana’s Nitrocross Series, off-road racing, sports car racing, car shows, drifting, team bracket racing, concerts, festivals, and more. Radford Racing School will also host its Dodge Demon Drag Racing and other instructional-based racing classes at the facility.
After the outpouring of support from the racing industry and race fans last year, the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority worked to reroute a freeway overpass that was supposed to go through the middle of the facility in order to keep it open. For more information, visit racefirebird.com.
Vestar Announces Sam’s Club Addition to Tempe Marketplace in Expansion
Vestar Development Co., a prominent Phoenix-based developer, is set to expand Tempe Marketplace with a significant new addition. The company recently filed plans with the city of Tempe to introduce a Sam’s Club warehouse retailer, a division of the Arkansas-based Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), to this shopping center.
Vestar has confirmed plans to commence construction of the new Sam’s Club in spring, with an anticipated opening in early 2025, pending city approval. This addition marks a substantial expansion for Tempe Marketplace, already a hub for major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Harkins Theatres.
The new Sam’s Club is expected to be a significant draw for the shopping center, attracting a broader customer base who are willing to travel further distances for their shopping needs. This is seen as a strategic move by Vestar to bolster foot traffic and bring new customers to the existing retailers within the center.
Once opened, the Sam’s Club at Tempe Marketplace will join eight other Sam’s Club locations within the Valley, enhancing the retailer’s presence in the East Valley area, which already includes locations in cities like Chandler and Gilbert.
Tempe Library Offers Weekly Life Skills Workshops for Teens
Tempe teens seeking guidance on essential life skills can now attend a series of free workshops at the local library. Every Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the teen library staff will host sessions covering a variety of practical topics, from budgeting to navigating motor vehicle department processes for licenses and IDs.
These interactive workshops aim to equip teens with the knowledge and confidence to handle everyday tasks and prepare for their future. Subjects include checking tire treads, the etiquette of sending thank you cards post-job interviews, and more. The program is designed to be accessible and informative, with no registration required, making it easy for teens to drop in.
The upcoming schedule includes sessions on setting goals and creating vision boards on January 8, basics of customer service on January 22, and event planning on January 29. Each workshop promises to be an engaging and educational experience.
The Tempe Library is located at 3500 S. Rural Rd. and is committed to supporting the community’s youth by providing resources and learning opportunities to help them succeed. For more information, visit tempepubliclibrary.org
