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From drag strips to road courses in extreme heat, Pennzoil fuels every lap at Radford Racing. Get a real-world experience at a performance drivers’ school.
Founded in 1968 and based just outside Phoenix, Arizona, the Radford Racing School
has long been a legendary hub of driver education and performance training. As the only purpose-built facility in the world where you can earn your Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) license in a single sitting, Radford blends immersive driving experiences with top-tier instruction to help students master the art of vehicle control on and off the track.
With a fleet powered exclusively by Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ Full Synthetic motor oil and a roster of professional instructors (many with decades of experience), the school welcomes everyone from first-time drivers to elite motorsport professionals. Whether you’re learning driving techniques in a skid car or launching a Pennzoil Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 down the drag strip, the facility offers personalized training that pushes boundaries in a safe, controlled environment.
Radford Racing School joined us to share more about the school’s legacy, philosophy, and why its relationship with Pennzoil continues to help drive its success.
PENNZOIL: Radford Racing School has been a cornerstone of performance driving education for decades. How has your mission evolved, and what continues to drive your passion today?
RADFORD: The mission, in a way, has almost remained the same. We are teaching people to be better drivers on and off the track. The main focus is to bring them to our purpose-built facility.
The individuals who have come through here range from professional race car drivers to those seeking safer driving conditions on the highway to young drivers. Helping those audiences, whether it’s fulfilling a dream or a need to be a better driver, is our biggest focus.
PENNZOIL: What kind of training does a student experience at Radford, whether they’re a total beginner or a seasoned motorsports enthusiast?
RADFORD: That’s a great question. If they’re a seasoned motorist looking to get into racing, we offer multi-day advanced classes with professional instructors.
Our instructors are racers themselves, and most of them have been here for 20 to 30 years. They can break down the fundamentals of car control, including both racing and non-racing aspects, as well as vehicle dynamics.
For less experienced or younger drivers, we use exercises like braking and control. We even have a skid car that helps simulate loss of control. In that controlled environment, students learn how to correct for oversteer, understeer, or sudden loss of traction, so they’re prepared for the real world.
PENNZOIL: Radford Racing School has hosted everyone from first-time drivers to elite racing professionals. What makes your facility and instructors uniquely equipped to support such a wide range of skill levels?
RADFORD: Our facility was purpose-built for training, not just for racing. It’s a track that incorporates different technical features that simulate real-world racing environments.
We’ve been at this facility since the early ’90s. The property includes three racetracks and a drag strip. It’s the only purpose-built training facility in the world, making us uniquely suited to train anyone, from first-timers to elite professionals.
PENNZOIL: In recent years, there’s been renewed interest in motorsports, especially among younger generations. How is Radford connecting with and inspiring the next wave of driving enthusiasts?
RADFORD: This is an exciting topic because the industry needs the next generation. Many young people aren’t getting their licenses until their 20s, but the popularization of motorsports in movies and gaming has sparked new interest.
At Radford, we offer experiences
, not just racing classes. Someone might not want to be a Formula 1 driver, but they can still experience the thrill of driving a real Formula 4 open-wheel car. We also offer a one-day drag racing experience, road course driving, and drifting fundamentals.
Movies like Fast & Furious and Ford v Ferrari, as well as games like Gran Turismo, have definitely contributed to this resurgence. We’re here to foster that creativity and interest.
PENNZOIL: Pennzoil powers vehicles across your entire fleet. How has using Pennzoil products supported vehicle performance and long-term reliability at the school, especially under the intense conditions of track driving?
RADFORD: We’re very proud to celebrate our reliance on Pennzoil in our fleet, especially since it can reach up to 115 degrees out here in the Arizona desert.
We run some very demanding courses, and students spend about 80 percent of their day behind the wheel. The tires, wheels, brakes, and engines take a beating, but we’re very proud to share that we haven’t lost an engine due to oil-related circumstances.
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ is a phenomenal product, and that kind of consistency really speaks to the level of engine protection it’s designed to deliver over the lifetime of a vehicle. We like to say, “Let us be your proving grounds.” We’ve run the Dodge Demon 170, with 1,000 horsepower, through 30 or 40 quarter-mile runs in the heat, and it hasn’t experienced any overheating issues.
PENNZOIL: The Long May We Drive campaign is about celebrating driving passion for years to come. How does that message align with Radford’s approach to education and vehicle preservation?
RADFORD: We love that message. We actually have a similar campaign called “Discover Driving.”
Driving is a personal and subjective experience; it means something different to everyone. Long May We Drive is about celebrating that freedom and storytelling. Whether you’re talking about a classic car or a modern vehicle, everyone has a story to tell.
It’s about passing that passion on to future generations. That’s what we believe in, too.
From novice drivers to seasoned pros, Radford Racing School offers a unique and transformational experience rooted in skill, passion, and performance. With its blend of real-world training and sensory-driving experiences, it’s no wonder that Radford remains the only place in the world where drivers can earn their SCCA license in a single sitting.
And with the trusted performance of Pennzoil Ultra Platinum™ under the hood, Radford’s fleet is built to perform under the most extreme conditions, day in and day out. Whether you’re looking to perfect your technique, earn your license, or embrace the thrill of the drive, Radford Racing School delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience every time you take the wheel.
Long May We Drive.
