Brickyard 400 Returns to Indianapolis Oval for 30th Anniversary
The Brickyard 400 is back, with the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series returning to the Racing Capital of the World this weekend.
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I'm somewhat new to NASCAR, but I've quickly fallen in love with the motor sport. As a kid, I watched a race here and there but didn't follow the Cup Series wholeheartedly until the 2024 season. I've seen just about every race so far this year, and I'm really excited about where the next one is taking place. More so, I'm excited about watching the race, but this time it won't be on TV. Rather, I'll get to see the action live and in person.
History
The Brickyard 400 will celebrate 30 years of racing this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. According to ESPN, Indiana icon Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400 on August 6, 1994, marking the first of his five Indianapolis victories. Additionally, that NASCAR debut was the first race, besides the Indianapolis 500, to be held at the famous track since 1916. The NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 will be held on Sunday, July 21, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 happening the Saturday prior. The 30-year anniversary weekend celebration will also feature a return to the track's roots.
Back to the Oval
ESPN notes that NASCAR raced on the oval from 1994 through 2020, but under Roger Penske's ownership, the race was moved to the 2.439-mile road course during a shared weekend with the IndyCar Series. However, in the fall of 2023, it was announced that the Brickyard 400 would return to the oval for its 30th anniversary on a separate weekend from the Indy 500. The last driver to win on the oval was Kevin Harvick in 2020, who retired from the Cup Series at the end of the 2023 season.
This weekend will not only mark my first time attending a NASCAR race in person, but it will also be my first time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. My wife and I will be watching the Cup Series race from the stands adjacent to Turn One this Sunday, cheering on Indiana native Chase Briscoe in the #14 car. The race starts at 1:30 PM (CT) and will be broadcast live on NBC. Fans of the Xfinity Series can catch that race at 2:30 PM (CT) Saturday on the USA Network. You can learn more about both races here.
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