Brickyard Week Packed with NASCAR and USAC Racing, Music, Fun for Fans at IMS
September 04, 2019 | By Zach Horrall, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A week-long celebration of motorsports at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 4 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 8 with events going on every single day for race fans. This week offers fun and excitement for everyone. With grassroots, short-track racing, a family-fun evening at the NASCAR Hauler Parade, racing with the future stars of NASCAR in the Xfinity Series, a star-studded concert event and the final race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season, there’s something that everyone can get excited about.
Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink Night One – Wednesday, Sept. 4
On-track action at the Racing Capital of the World takes the green flag on Wednesday with night one of the Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink at The Dirt Track at IMS. All 90 cars will see time under the lights as drivers will hit the track in groups of 12 for hot lap sessions at 5 p.m. (ET) and heat races at 7:15 p.m.
As the sun goes down, the stars will come out for the Stoops Pursuit, and 16-year-old Hoosier Zeb Wise looks to repeat his win from last year. Can he cash in the big check? You can find out when gates open at 3 p.m., and free parking is available in Lot 1B on Georgetown Road outside Turn 4. All tickets are general admission and are just $30. Don’t forget, kids ages 15 and under are admitted free with adult general admission ticket holders Wednesday night.
Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink Night Two – Thursday, Sept. 5
The best short-track racers in America will compete in one of the richest USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship races under the lights on the quarter-mile oval inside Turn 3 at IMS. Drivers in this stacked field have accumulated 23 USAC National Championships and 208 total USAC National Midget feature wins. Included in the field trying to make the A-Main feature are NASCAR stars Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and J.J. Yeley, as well as NTT IndyCar Series fan favorite Conor Daly. The addition of some of racing’s most talented drivers shows the depth and popularity of short-track racing’s roots. NASCAR’s history can be traced to dirt, and USAC has become a stepping-stone to the elite level of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Many NASCAR legends, such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, got their start on dirt. Racing’s next superstar might be right before your eyes at the BC39.
Gates open at 3 p.m. Hot lap sessions begin at 5 p.m., followed by qualifying races at 6 p.m. and the Main races at 7:45 p.m. They all lead up to the Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink. The A-Main feature, which pays tribute to the late Bryan Clauson and raises awareness for the Indiana Donor Network’s Driven2SaveLives campaign, takes the green flag under the lights around 9:30 p.m. for 39 laps of non-stop, side-by-side short-track action that you cannot miss. All seats are reserved, and tickets are still available!
Indiana 250 Practice and NASCAR Hauler Parade – Friday, Sept. 6
On Friday, the action transitions from the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 to the historic 2.5-mile oval as NASCAR hits the track for the first time in a year. The NASCAR Xfinity Series holds a pair of practice sessions as the future stars of NASCAR get ready for their chance to kiss the bricks. Gates open at 11 a.m., and tickets start at $15. Kids ages 15 and under are admitted free with adult general admission ticket purchase.
After the first official day of NASCAR on-track activity, make sure you head across the street to downtown Speedway for a night of fun for the entire family and a chance to meet some of NASCAR’s biggest stars at the annual NASCAR Hauler Parade on Main Street. Former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2003 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard winner Kevin Harvick will take part in a kids-only autograph session starting at 5:30 p.m. Wristband distribution will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Waiver and Participant check-in.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Daniel Hemric and defending Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line winner Brad Keselowski will play “Racer Relays” with kids. Then, at 7 p.m., 2017 Indiana 250 winner William Byron and NASCAR’s most recent Cup Series winner, Erik Jones, will compete in a “Flippy Cup Tournament” with kids.
Admission to the Hauler Parade is free!
Indiana 250, NASCAR Cup Series Practice and FGL Fest – Saturday, Sept. 7
On Saturday, the action ramps up as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars hit the track for two practice sessions as they prepare their cars for the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line. Meanwhile, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will also be on track for Indiana 250 qualifying and the race, which takes the green flag at 3 p.m. Gates open at 9 a.m., and tickets to see the NASCAR action start at $25. Kids ages 15 and under are admitted free with adult General Admission ticket purchase.
Saturday also presents the chance to meet your favorite NASCAR driver with several autograph sessions taking place. The NASCAR Xfinity Series autograph session takes place at 10:30 a.m. in the East Chalet of the Pagoda Plaza. Wristband distribution for the autograph session begins at 9 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
Young race fans will have the opportunity to meet some of the NASCAR Cup Series’ star drivers in a pair of kids only autograph sessions for kids ages 15 and under. In one session, 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and 2013 Big Machine Vodka 400 winner Ryan Newman will meet with race fans. In another session, defending Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard winner Brad Keselowski and 2011 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard winner Paul Menard will meet young race fans. Wristband distribution for the youth only autograph session will be at 10 a.m. in the Kids Zone located in the Midway.
As the on-track activity begins to wind down Saturday, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will just be getting started. A star-studded lineup will take the stage at FGL Fest in Turn 4 with nearly eight hours of music you cannot miss. Starting at 3:30 p.m., Payton Smith, Canaan Smith, Blanco Brown and Mitchell Tenpenny will get the stage warmed up before Grammy-Award winning artist Nelly, pop-country duo Dan+Shay and global music sensation Florida Georgia Line perform on a September Saturday night you won’t forget. Pit and VIP tickets are sold out. General admission tickets are still available and cost $52. Remember, an FGL Fest ticket does not get you access to see NASCAR’s stars on track Saturday. You need a ticket to both to see a full day of activities.
Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line – Sunday, Sept. 8
Race Day offers qualifying and racing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. It all starts at 10:30 a.m. with qualifying as 40 of the best stock car drivers in the world lock in their starting spot for the big race. At 2 p.m., NASCAR’s biggest stars will take the green flag on the 26th Running of the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line.
Race fans are in store for an epic race that will be full of drama on a September afternoon. Aside from trying to win one of NASCAR’s crown jewel races and a chance to kiss the bricks, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line marks the final race of the regular season. Four drivers are battling in points for the final two spots in the playoffs. The 16th and final spot in the playoffs is currently tied between Daniel Suarez and Ryan Newman. If someone from between 18th and 30th in points takes the checkered flag and locks themselves into the playoffs, the drama will really ramp up for the final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot. Included in that group on the outside looking in is four-time Brickyard winner and seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. Tickets are still available at IMS.com for one of the biggest NASCAR races of the year.