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Most memorable moments at Indianapolis
By Staff Report | Thursday, September 5, 2019
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As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series makes its stop at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we take a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the Brickyard.
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Aug. 6, 1994
It was the inaugural Brickyard 400 and a 23-year-old Jeff Gordon, who claimed his hometown as nearby Pittsboro, Indiana, earned his second career premier series win in NASCAR's first event at the famed 2.5-mile oval. Gordon led 93 out of 160 laps to beat out Brett Bodine. The four-time champion has five wins at the track, the most in NASCAR.
It was the inaugural Brickyard 400 and a 23-year-old Jeff Gordon, who claimed his hometown as nearby Pittsboro, Indiana, earned his second career premier series win in NASCAR's first event at the famed 2.5-mile oval. Gordon led 93 out of 160 laps to beat out Brett Bodine. The four-time champion has five wins at the track, the most in NASCAR.
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Aug. 6, 1994
Brothers Brett and Geoffrey Bodine weren't exactly on the best of terms headed into Indianapolis in 1994, but the race's events just added fuel to that fire. The brothers had both qualified in the top 10 and were running well with 60 laps remaining when Geoff bumped Brett, who then retaliated by shoving his older brother into the wall, causing a massive pile-up. Brett went on to finish runner-up to Jeff Gordon, and the brothers didn't speak for a while after that.
Brothers Brett and Geoffrey Bodine weren't exactly on the best of terms headed into Indianapolis in 1994, but the race's events just added fuel to that fire. The brothers had both qualified in the top 10 and were running well with 60 laps remaining when Geoff bumped Brett, who then retaliated by shoving his older brother into the wall, causing a massive pile-up. Brett went on to finish runner-up to Jeff Gordon, and the brothers didn't speak for a while after that.
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Aug. 5, 1995
The second running of the Brickyard 400 took almost two days to complete as rain pushed the start of the race back several hours, but that didn't slow Dale Earnhardt's efforts for the checkered flag. With only two cautions in the entire race and teams having little time to work on their cars, the 'Intimidator' rose to the challenge and grabbed the lead with 28 laps remaining, holding off rival Rusty Wallace.
The second running of the Brickyard 400 took almost two days to complete as rain pushed the start of the race back several hours, but that didn't slow Dale Earnhardt's efforts for the checkered flag. With only two cautions in the entire race and teams having little time to work on their cars, the 'Intimidator' rose to the challenge and grabbed the lead with 28 laps remaining, holding off rival Rusty Wallace.
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Aug. 3, 1996
Indianapolis' most famous NASCAR tradition -- kissing the bricks -- didn't begin until the third Brickyard 400. The idea came from Dale Jarrett's crew chief, Todd Parrott, who guided the NASCAR Hall of Famer to his first victory there in 1996. Parrott decided to kiss the notable yard of bricks that lay at the start/finish line and the rest of the No. 88 Robert Yates Racing team followed along.
Indianapolis' most famous NASCAR tradition -- kissing the bricks -- didn't begin until the third Brickyard 400. The idea came from Dale Jarrett's crew chief, Todd Parrott, who guided the NASCAR Hall of Famer to his first victory there in 1996. Parrott decided to kiss the notable yard of bricks that lay at the start/finish line and the rest of the No. 88 Robert Yates Racing team followed along.
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Aug. 4, 2002
Earning his first win at Indianapolis, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott grabbed the 2002 Brickyard 400 win with his now-No. 9 Monster Energy Series driver and son, Chase Elliott, in attendance. 'Awesome Bill from Dawsonville' led 93 laps to capture the checkered flag.
Earning his first win at Indianapolis, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott grabbed the 2002 Brickyard 400 win with his now-No. 9 Monster Energy Series driver and son, Chase Elliott, in attendance. 'Awesome Bill from Dawsonville' led 93 laps to capture the checkered flag.
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Aug. 7, 2005
Being an Indiana native, one of Tony Stewart's biggest racing goals was to conquer Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the veteran achieved that on his seventh run. Stewart passed Kasey Kahne with 11 laps remaining, then celebrated by climbing the fence to the flagstand. Stewart went on to win that season's title.
Being an Indiana native, one of Tony Stewart's biggest racing goals was to conquer Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the veteran achieved that on his seventh run. Stewart passed Kasey Kahne with 11 laps remaining, then celebrated by climbing the fence to the flagstand. Stewart went on to win that season's title.
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July 25, 2010
By winning at Indianapolis in 2010, Jamie McMurray became the third driver in NASCAR history to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. McMurray's then-teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, looked to be the driver to beat until pit strategy and a wreck hurt his chances at the win. That's when McMurray swooped in and joined the company of Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).
By winning at Indianapolis in 2010, Jamie McMurray became the third driver in NASCAR history to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. McMurray's then-teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, looked to be the driver to beat until pit strategy and a wreck hurt his chances at the win. That's when McMurray swooped in and joined the company of Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).
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July 31, 2011
In an uncommon emotional post-race interview with Paul Menard, the 2011 Brickyard 400 winner told the media: "I've been coming here since I was a little kid, my dad tried to win this race for 35 years, so this is for my dad ... I went to every Indy 500 from 1989 to 2003, I was here for the inaugural Brickyard 400 in '94. For my family and for myself, Indianapolis is a very special place."
In an uncommon emotional post-race interview with Paul Menard, the 2011 Brickyard 400 winner told the media: "I've been coming here since I was a little kid, my dad tried to win this race for 35 years, so this is for my dad ... I went to every Indy 500 from 1989 to 2003, I was here for the inaugural Brickyard 400 in '94. For my family and for myself, Indianapolis is a very special place."
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July 28, 2013
Just two weeks before Ryan Newman came to race the 2013 Brickyard 400, he learned he'd be out of a job come 2014 as his then-team, Stewart-Haas Racing, announced plans to change drivers the following season. Newman saw his Indy performance as an audition and nailed it after starting the race from the pole and leading 45 laps to beat out Jimmie Johnson.
Just two weeks before Ryan Newman came to race the 2013 Brickyard 400, he learned he'd be out of a job come 2014 as his then-team, Stewart-Haas Racing, announced plans to change drivers the following season. Newman saw his Indy performance as an audition and nailed it after starting the race from the pole and leading 45 laps to beat out Jimmie Johnson.
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July 26, 2015
Kyle Busch checked a lot off his NASCAR bucket list when he won the 2015 Brickyard 400, just nine races back after breaking his right leg and left foot in the XFINITY Series season-opener at Daytona. Busch had kissed the bricks a day prior when he won the Xfinity Series race at Indy, making him the first driver to sweep both series races.
Kyle Busch checked a lot off his NASCAR bucket list when he won the 2015 Brickyard 400, just nine races back after breaking his right leg and left foot in the XFINITY Series season-opener at Daytona. Busch had kissed the bricks a day prior when he won the Xfinity Series race at Indy, making him the first driver to sweep both series races.
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July 24, 2016
Kyle Busch became the second driver in NASCAR history to go back-to-back at the Brickyard. Busch led 149 of 170 laps in a race that went 10 laps past the scheduled distance. His victory put him in elite company with Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2009 winner).
Kyle Busch became the second driver in NASCAR history to go back-to-back at the Brickyard. Busch led 149 of 170 laps in a race that went 10 laps past the scheduled distance. His victory put him in elite company with Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2009 winner).
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June 23, 2017
Kasey Kahne took the Brickyard 400 in what ended up being his final victory on the Monster Energy Series level. In a race that featured a record 14 cautions, Kahne cleared race leader Brad Keselowski and crossed the overtime line first on the backstretch before NASCAR called the race under caution. The win put Kahne in the playoffs and was his first in NASCAR's top series since 2014 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kasey Kahne took the Brickyard 400 in what ended up being his final victory on the Monster Energy Series level. In a race that featured a record 14 cautions, Kahne cleared race leader Brad Keselowski and crossed the overtime line first on the backstretch before NASCAR called the race under caution. The win put Kahne in the playoffs and was his first in NASCAR's top series since 2014 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
