By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
From Indianapolis, Indiana
Brickyard News
The Brickyard 400 has undergone many changes over the last 30 years but the transition back from the roval to the speedway is what the drivers have wanted all along. RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski summed it up for many drivers. “It’s a return of a crown jewel race, which is great. I don’t think anyone really considered the road course a crown jewel race, so it kind of returns back to that status. I think that’s huge for our sport and it means a lot to me as a driver and I’m assuming it does for the other drivers as well.” BK would know something about it as one of only two active drivers to have won this race on the oval.
Keselowski’s credibility in NASCAR and especially at Indianapolis is seen in the betting line. He is in third at an 8-1 in odds behind only Denny Hamlin (15-4) and Kyle Larson at (8-1). CBS Sportsline Story <
Photo by Getty Images
What will Attendance Be Like?
For me, its all about attendance at Indianapolis. It was pitiful last year and at most tracks outside of Daytona, Talladega, Darlington and Bristol, it would be off the schedule. Hopefully, ticket sales are strong and people show up to once was a sellout date on the NASCAR schedule. Most tracks do not draw well for qualifying and Indianapolis had plenty of available seats. Because Indianapolis has 250K seats, the place looked nearly empty. The key is Sunday’s attendance. Wishing the race a packed crowd.
Silly Season News… There is another seat filled for 2025
In a press conference Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cole Custer announced his return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025 with Haas Factory Team. The 26-year-old racer from Ladera Ranch, California, will drive the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse with sponsorship from Haas Automation and HaasTooling.com.
He Said It – 1 Cole Custer Signs with HAAS Automotive
Cole, returning to the Cup Series a second time, what did you learn from your first go-round in the Cup Series that you can now apply and maybe you’ll look better on the second round? COLE CUSTER : “Well, I think at the end of the day, it’s as competitive as it’s ever been. You see 30 guys out there that can probably legitimately go win any given weekend. So you have to be very smart about how you navigate a weekend and through a season because there’s going to be times where you’re not where you want to be. You have to lead your team in the right direction”
He Said It- 2 – Indianapolis Native Justin Haley
JUSTIN HALEY, No. 51 Fraternal Order of Eagles Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Justin, what is it like coming home to Indianapolist and running on the oval at IMS?
“Great opening question there, I really appreciate that. It’s obviously cool. Being from Indiana, me and Chase Briscoe, obviously are from here, and racing at the Brickyard for the first time is obviously cool. Yesterday in practice, it’s definitely tricky in this car. I’m just trying to get everything worked out. I spent a lot of summers here watching the Brickyard, a lot of springs in May coming here watching the Indy 500 and things like that
He Said It 3 Indiana Native Chase Briscoe
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE RACING HERE FOR YOU, BEING AN INDIANA NATIVE?
“I am excited to be back home again in Indiana. It’s been nice every year to be able to come up here a couple days early and spend time with my grandparents, family and friends that I don’t get to see a whole lot, so it’s been a fun week, Excited to be back on the oval. Every racecar driver dreams of getting to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when you grow up in Indiana, it’s just that much more special. I’ve always said I don’t care what we’re racing on, I just want to race at IMS, whether it’s the road course or the oval, the dirt track over there in the parking lot.
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net