For 60 years, NASCAR has celebrated the Fourth of July holiday at the Daytona International Speedway. This weekend will mark the first weekend that drivers will travel to another prestigious track on the circuit, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to commemorate the birth of our Nation.

Well before the Pandemic hit earlier this year, the scheduled changes had been set in place for this weekend’s races.  The only change since the Pandemic occurred has been the addition of a NTT IndyCar Series event, the GMR Grand Prix originally scheduled for May 11, to the docket.

“The fans and the industry as a whole have been vocal about the desire for sweeping changes to the schedule, and the 2020 slate is a reflection of our efforts to execute against that feedback,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “These changes are the result of unprecedented consensus-building with our race tracks and broadcast partners; something we look to continue into 2021 and beyond.”

Fun Fact:

Did you know that back in 1980 we could have started our tradition of going to Indianapolis on the Fourth of July weekend?  Bill France openly announced that he would be moving the race from the date over a tax dispute with the City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County. NASCAR would have moved the race to Indianapolis had the two parties not reconciled.

Win-Win for Fans

I will definitely miss the Daytona race being on the Fourth of July weekend, but I am excited about what this change means for the sport! 

Daytona will give away a race date that is usually met with humid weather and rain delays. Given how the 2020 season has played out since the resumption of racing, fans will be grateful for a race not plagued by mother nature. The move is already sounding good for fans.

The change will also set up a great Playoff season. The track now begins the regular season with the Daytona 500 and end it with the Coke Zero Sugar 400. By having an unpredictable Superspeedway race end the regular season, we will be in for some hard racing for those vying for those last few spots in the Playoffs.

“Quite fittingly, the birthplace of NASCAR will host the bookend races to the 2020 regular season,” O’Donnell said. “Racing in Daytona – particularly in the summer under the lights – never fails in delivering intense and unpredictable action. There’s no question this venue will create some incredible drama as drivers make one last push for a playoff spot.”

Even on the flip side of the coin, fans will win with this schedule change because the Brickyard will no doubt offer us a great show.

“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,” race track owner Roger Penske said. “Our partners at NASCAR, NBC, Big Machine and Pennzoil 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.”

Originally the plan was to have the Indianapolis 500 (Indy’s crown jewel), run on Memorial Day weekend and have the Brickyard event follow up to that event in July. However, the date of the Indianapolis 500 has moved to the weekend of August 23^rd, due to COVID-19 schedule changes.

Xfinity cars will try out the road course inside the speedway for the first time ever on Saturday. Following the race, Indianapolis has planned the biggest firework display in the state. The time is staggered from the fireworks downtown, so locals could potentially enjoy both shows. Unfortunately, fans will not be in attendance this weekend at IMS.

On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will take to the track in another one of the prestigious races on the schedule, The Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records, at The Brickyard. This race always brings with it the nostalgia of motorsport greatness. It will be exciting to see that nostalgia as part of the weekend’s celebrations.

No matter how you slice the watermelon this Fourth of July weekend, fans win. We get to see some great racing, with some great patriotism and appreciation for our military and those who allow us to have our freedom and fireworks. Since the race will be run without fans, I would imagine that at least a portion of the firework show will end up at the end of the broadcast on Saturday. We all look forward to this weekend’s action filled with many firsts.