After plenty of speculation about what the 2024 plans will be for the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. questioning why the sport ever abandoned the oval, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has finally confirmed the long-awaited return of the Brickyard 400.
After over three years of running the road course, along with a year that saw no fans in the stands in the last running of the Brickyard 400 due to Covid in 2020, the crown jewel event will be making its triumphant return.
The #Brickyard400 presented by @PPG returns??
30 years after the Inaugural race, we?re running it back to our @NASCAR roots, 90?s themed and all. ?#NASCAR | #ThisIsIndy | @PPGRefinish_NA pic.twitter.com/YwkuW12xzY
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) September 28, 2023
The return to the oval will be special because the 2024 race will mark the 30th Anniversary of the inaugural event in 1994, which saw Jeff Gordon win. This race will take place on July 21st, with the event logo being inspired by the famous logo used in 1994.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles has been giddy about this whole thing for months now, and with it being official, he can't wait to see NASCAR back on the oval as it should be. As reported by the IndyStar's Nathan Brown, there is plenty of buzz surrounding today's news.
"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," Boles said in a statement. "Whether you've been with us all 30 years or are a new fan, the celebration as we 'come back around' will be a can't-miss and truly unforgettable."
Drivers, including Kyle Busch, a two-time Brickyard 400 winner, among others across the sport, have long awaited this return. Busch was famous for saying, "If we can't do a good enough job getting enough people to Indy to suffice us staying on the oval, then we need to go somewhere else," and clearly after the last three years of issues on the road course, he was right.
It seems the Goodyear tire test conducted on the oval in August, was a success, and NASCAR and Goodyear are planning more tire tests to hopefully ensure better competition and a more entertaining race. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a legendary track with so much history; 30 years after the first Brickyard 400 for NASCAR, it only seems right that they get back to making more.
