NASCAR Returns To Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval For Brickyard 400

NASCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway finally made its long-awaited announcement on Thursday that the stock car racing series will be returning to the world’s most famous oval in 2024.

To celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the Brickyard 400, both the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series will return to the famed 2.5-mile oval next season. The Brickyard Weekend will be Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21.

For the past three seasons, the NASCAR Cup Series has competed on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The Xfinity Series has been competing on the road course since 2020. That was the final year the NASCAR Cup Series ran the famed 2.5-mile IMS oval.

“While it’s been exciting to watch the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series drivers tackle the IMS road course over the last three years, being back on the oval for the 30th anniversary is a much-anticipated homecoming for drivers and fans alike,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.

“Whether you’ve been with us all 30 years or are a new fan, the celebration as we ‘come back around’ will be can’t-miss and truly unforgettable.”

The inaugural Brickyard 400 took place Aug. 6, 1994, with racing legend and Hoosier icon Jeff Gordon capturing the first of his five Brickyard 400 victories. The inaugural event was the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge to be held at IMS since 1916.

From 1994 to 2020, the race was held on the 2.5-mile oval before shifting to the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course over the last three years as part of a tripleheader weekend with the NTT IndyCar Series.

“After three strong years on the IMS road course, it is momentous to return to the historic oval,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president, Racing Development and Strategy. “The history of motorsports permeates throughout IMS, so we look forward to celebrating the 30^th anniversary of NASCAR at the Brickyard with the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024.”

The revived Brickyard 400 will be sponsored by PPG, a longtime partner at both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Team Penske, and the Penske Corporation’s vast automotive industry businesses.

Fans will notice the 2024 Brickyard 400 presented by PPG logo contains elements from the inaugural 1994 race logo, including the iconic purple, black and gold color scheme. This is the first of many anniversary celebrations fans can expect at the Brickyard.

The first seven winners of the Brickyard 400 had their names inscribed on the coveted PPG Trophy.

“PPG is proud to return to the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at IMS for its 30^th anniversary as the primary entitlement sponsor,” PPG Chief Communications Officer Bryan Iams said. “We are excited to see how our paints, coatings and specialty materials continue to transform the world of racing.”

Michael McDowell won the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2023, while Ty Gibbs took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard presented by Advance Auto Parts
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. The last NASCAR Cup Series winner on the famed oval was Kevin Harvick in 2020.

“It’s always an honor to race at IMS, but it’s no secret that I’m excited for NASCAR’s return to the oval,” 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson said. “The Brickyard 400 is one of the crown jewels of the sport’s season. To win on the oval, especially during NASCAR’s 30th anniversary at the track, is to add your name to the history books.

“The competition will be fierce, but with strong support from Hendrick Motorsports and HendrickCars.com, I hope to bring the No. 5 Chevy to victory lane and kiss the bricks.”