Oscar Mayer and Indianapolis Motor Speedway teamed up for the Wienie 500 on Miller Lite Carb Day on May 23.
The “first-of-its-kind” event blended racing tradition with pure playful spectacle for a special race in which the entire fleet of iconic Wienermobiles took to the legendary 2.5-mile oval for a competition unlike anything ever staged at IMS.
The event marked the racing debut of Oscar Mayer’s beloved Hotdoggers. For decades, the Wienermobile has appeared at festivals, parades and community events across the country but never before had it participated in a full-fledged race. Fans who couldn’t attend in person watched live through the FOX Sports app and across the @INDYCARonFOX social media channels, where the spectacle quickly became a viral sensation.
The Wienie 500 also represented the first “meat-up” of all six Wienermobiles in more than a decade. To celebrate the moment, Oscar Mayer unveiled fresh designs for each vehicle, transforming the fleet into a lineup of regionally inspired hot-dog heroes. The entries included the Chi Dog (Midwest), New York Dog (East), Slaw Dog (Southeast), Sonoran Dog (Southwest), Chili Dog (South) and Seattle Dog (Northwest). Each featured custom graphics that reflected the ingredients and personality of its regional flavor.
No detail was overlooked in creating a true racing atmosphere with a whimsical twist. The Hotdoggers arrived in custom racing suits, each tailored to match their vehicle’s theme. A designated “Wiener’s Circle” served as the post-race celebration zone, where the winning team received a trophy presentation complete with condiment spray and, of course, a victory hot dog for the “wiener.”
From pre-race pageantry to the final lap, the event was designed to spark smiles and delivered the kind of lighthearted fun for a raucous Carb Day crowd to consume.
In the end, Slaw Dog edged out Chi Dog in a surprisingly dramatic finish, earning bragging rights and sending one of the biggest Carb Day crowds in IMS history into laughter, cheers and plenty of bun-soaked celebration.
