MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 15, 2020) – This year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have an historic feel to it. IMS and NASCAR announced today that the series’ July 4 event on the famed 2.5-mile speed plant would take place on a version of the IMS road course, rather than the iconic 2.5-mile oval.
JRM driver Justin Allgaier, who won the NXS race at Indy in 2018 and came a few lengths from another victory in 2019, was on hand for the announcement, which also included new IMS owner Roger Penske and NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations and International Development Ben Kennedy.
NASCAR has raced at IMS since the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994, but its traditional August date moved to September the past two years before assuming the July 4 slot that had belonged to Daytona International Speedway for many years.
"The Brickyard weekend has been a cornerstone of the IMS schedule since its debut in 1994, and we're committed to the continued growth and revitalization of the event with its move from early September to Fourth of July weekend," Penske said. "Our partners share our passion for this great event, and we will work alongside them and others to deliver world-class racing and entertainment for our fans during a celebration of America."
NXS teams will race on Saturday on the road course—the configuration of which has yet to be determined—and the NASCAR Cup Series will race on the oval the following day, marking the first time in IMS history that particular format will be used.
“I knew when the announcement was made that Penske Corp. had purchased IMS, I knew the Speedway couldn’t be in better hands,” Allgaier said. “I’ve had enough conversations with Roger to know that the wheels are always spinning, he’s always trying to improve racing, the product that goes on the track.
“Winning here two years ago and running second here last year, I’d like a little redemption on the oval, because I feel that we’ve had a successful go at it. On the flip side of that, this opportunity really is exciting to me. The switch to the July 4 weekend, to a race course that fits our cars very well and seeing what some of the options are, I believe there are going to be some great passing zones, the ability to put on a great race.”
Kennedy revealed that an initial road-course test would take place on Jan. 22 to determine which configuration would be used on the road course for the July 4th event.
“As we've seen in recent years, road course racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series provides some of the most thrilling action of the entire season, and we are excited to bring it to an iconic venue like Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Kennedy said. "Roger and the entire IMS team have been tremendous partners in growing the Brickyard weekend, and we're looking forward to what promises to be a must-see event during July 4th weekend.”
Allgaier flew to Indianapolis from Tulsa, Okla., where he is participating in the annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, for the event, said that winning the inaugural road-course event at IMS for the series was a big draw.
“Having a road course on Saturday and an oval race on Sunday, I’m excited for that,” he said. “To be able to come here and be part of this event, to be the first NASCAR road race at IMS...we’re all going to want to win that first race. It’s new, there’s a lot of excitement and I couldn’t be more excited myself to get back here on July 4th weekend.”
Allgaier is very good on road courses in NXS competition, as three of his 11 career triumphs have come on the twisty tracks (at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in 2012 and in 2018 at both Mid-Ohio and Road America).