 The race , the thirty @-@ fifth of a total of thirty @-@ six in the 2009 season , began at 3 : 15 p.m. EST and was televised in the United States on ESPN . Around the start of the race , weather conditions were sunny . Phoenix International Raceway chaplin Ken Bowers began pre @-@ race ceremonies by giving the invocation . Former J Records recording artist Tyrese Gibson performed the national anthem , and Senator John McCain commanded the drivers to start their engines . No driver had to move to rear of the grid at the start of the race . 
