Special F-35 fighter flyover at Phoenix will honor Jeff Gordon

Fans in the sold-out grandstands at Phoenix International Raceway will be treated to the thrill of the first-ever flyover by a pair of F-35 fighter jets prior to the start of the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. 

The F-35 fighter jets based out of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., will have some very special cargo onboard: To celebrate Jeff Gordon's final race at PIR, one of the fighters will be carrying a commemorative Jeff Gordon Raceway flag. 

The first-ever flyover of the F-35 fighter jets is scheduled to begin at the conclusion of the National Anthem and will pass directly over the Estrella Mountains to the Southeast behind Turn 3 and then exit beyond the Bobby Allison Grandstands above Turn 1.