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Brickyard 400
#MyBrickyard: Jerry Kujala, Mountain Iron, Minnesota

Note: The #MyBrickyard series features longtime ticket holders for the Brickyard 400, as they discuss what they enjoy about the NASCAR weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and why it has become an annual tradition for them. Some installments will feature first-person accounts; others will be in question-and-answer format.

Today’s second installment features Jerry Kujala of Mountain Iron, Minnesota, who has attended all 23 previous Brickyard 400 races with his son. This is Jerry’s account of why he loves the NASCAR weekend at IMS, which is July 21-23 this year for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and the Lilly Diabetes 250:

Jerry Kujala

Q: Jerry, have you attended all 23 Brickyard 400s? If not, how many?

A: My son and I have been to every Brickyard race. Other members of our group are family members who hail from the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul).

Q: Have you been in the same seats every year?

A: We have had seats in the Penthouse Paddock, Row A every year until last year, when we moved up a few rows.

Q: Where do you stay for the race?

A: The first couple of years we stayed in hotels in Illinois and then started coming in my motor home. After a couple of years of camping, we discovered Lot 6 and have been there ever since. We like Lot 6 because it is wooded and has an excellent atmosphere and helpful workers. Although there have been closer NASCAR race venues opened since the Brickyard started, the Brickyard remains price competitive for campers.

Q: Do you have any Race Day or race weekend rituals?

A: Our group always draws drivers for a pool both Saturday and Sunday.

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