Opening in 1961, Portland International Raceway has become the Pacific Northwest's premier racing venue. The track has boasted many of America's top road racing series, from the classic years of the SCCA Trans-Am Series to CART from 1984 to 2007. It currently features events for the IndyCar Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards Series, and the Trans-Am West Coast Championship.

Portland's Grand Prix layout clocks in at 12 turns and just under two miles. The track's long front straightaway is broken up by the Shelton Chicane, initiated by a hard right-hand turn that can cause chaos with unprepared drivers at the start of a race. The mixed-surface layout, featuring a split of asphalt and concrete, can see drivers in top-level classes turn laps of under a minute.