Indianapolis Motor Speedway track president expects ‘NFL-sized sellout crowd’ for NASCAR race

The hype regarding the return of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Cup Series is palpable, and it’s showing up in the track’s ticket sales.

According to Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles , sales for this weekend’s race are through the roof, and this season’s iteration of the Brickyard 400 is shaping up to be the most well-attended since 2017.

“Doug Boles says ticket sales for the Cup Series race will likely make it the largest crowd at Indianapolis since 2017,” Kelly Crandall of RACER posted on X, formerly known as Twitter . “Per Boles, ‘Attendance for the Brickyard 400 … is similar to an NFL-sized sellout crowd.'”

Evidently, after a couple of seasons of racing on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, NASCAR fans in the area were ready for a change. The Brickyard 400 is one of the sport’s most prestigious races, and returning the event to its rightful place on the Cup Series schedule was a great move from the decision-makers.

Additionally, there’s a whiff of unpredictability in the air, as only three active drivers have victories in the Brickyard 400 — Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson . We could see a first-time winner in the event, with veteran Denny Hamlin the current betting favorite, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sunday’s Brickyard 400 will be a must-see event, and something NASCAR fans have waited to see for a couple of years now. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is reaping the benefit, and it looks like the pomp and circumstance will be back for good, if the results hold over the course of the weekend.

Kevin Harvick predicts Brickyard 400 winner

Kevin Harvick and the Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are turning their attention to the Brickyard 400 this weekend, as the NASCAR Cup Series will return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After a couple of seasons racing the road course in Indianapolis, the oval returns for the Cup Series, and the vibes are immaculate. Harvick actually won the previous two iterations of the Brickyard 400, so who does he believe will join him in the history books? None other than Denny Hamlin .

“I kind of spilled mine earlier. I just keep picking the No. 11 to win,” Harvick said, before adding another bold prediction, as well . “I think I did pick the No. 11 last week. Yeah, I think they’re going to win it.

“I think they’re going to win the championship this year. They may not make it all the way through the playoffs, and you can give me a hard time, but if I had to pick today, that’s my guy.”

A 2-for-1 special from Harvick, as he’s obviously confident in Hamlin’s abilities. We’ll see if he can kiss the bricks, or if a surprise winner is in store for this weekend’s Brickyard 400.

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