NASCAR celebrates 31 years at the Racing Capital of the World this weekend with the Running of the Brickyard 400 on the historic 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The inaugural Brickyard 400 took place Aug. 6, 1994, with Jeff Gordon capturing the victory. It marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at IMS since 1916. From 1994 to 2020, the race was held on the 2.5-mile oval before shifting to the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course for three years. The Cup cars returned to the oval last year.
ROSS CHASTAIN
Busch Light Lime at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: This weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ross Chastain will carry the Busch Light Lime paint scheme on the No. 1 Chevrolet, bringing a refreshing twist to the track and a cheers to the brand’s latest limited-edition fruit-forward flavored lager, Busch Light Lime. The vibrant, citrusy lime-green design is a nod to the new lime-flavored lager and sunny days outside, cooler vibes, and crisp refreshment—capturing the essence of summer in every lap. Fresh from Busch Light Apple’s return, Busch Light Lime is the brand’s second seasonal drop this year, making 2025 Busch Light’s biggest summer of flavor ever! Busch Light Lime is only here for a limited time. Once summer’s over, it’s gone. Fans can find Busch Light Lime at participating retailers in 25 states, including Indiana - before the paint fades and the lime runs dry.
Chastain at the Brickyard: Chastain makes his fifth Cup Series start on the oval at Indy this weekend. He has a best finish of 15th at the 2.5-mile track (2024) and has led at least one lap in the last three consecutive Indy races (10 laps total).
Double Duty for Chastain: Before the Cup race on Sunday, Chastain will drive the No. 44 Illiana Watermelon Association Silverado at Indianapolis Raceway Park for Niece Motorsports on Friday night in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Located in Brownsburg, Ind., the track was the site of Chastain's first-ever NASCAR National Series start in July 2011. He claimed a respectable 10th-place finish in his debut and made four more starts in the series over the final months of the season.
Meet Chastain: On Sunday at 10:15 a.m. ET, Chastain will appear at the Chevy Stage for a Q&A. At 10:40 a.m. he will sign autographs at the Trackhouse Racing merchandise hauler located in the Fan Zone - wristband required and distribution begins on Friday.
Last Weekend at Dover: Heavy rain canceled practice and qualifying last Saturday. NASCAR determined the starting lineup based on the rule book which gave Chastain the 19th starting spot. He drove up to 14th in the first stage, and flirted with the top-10 in Stage 2 before finishing 16th. In the final stage, Chastain ran inside the top-10 in the final stage but his chances for a good finish ended 18 laps from the finish against the Turn 2 wall.
Crew Chief: Chastain and crew chief Phil Surgen have worked together since 2021. The duo is the third longest active driver and crew chief pairing.
Most Wins for No. 1 Car in Cup Series: The No. 1 car has been to victory lane six times with Chastain since 2022, the most wins by a driver with that number. Jamie McMurray previously held the record with four victories in the No. 1 car.
Chastain Quotes
A little bit different look for your car this weekend, right?
"One thing for sure about the Busch Light Lime car this weekend is my spotters won't have any issues finding it on the track. It's a nice, bright car and Busch Light Lime is a very refreshing flavor to have here in the hot summer. It has been fun driving the different fruit themed cars. The fans are very vocal about their thoughts regarding Busch Light Apple which is fun. I think they're really going to like Busch Light Lime."
How do you like racing on the oval at Indy?
"I like racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway no matter if the track layout is a road course or the oval. Obviously, the oval is more traditional there versus the road course. But whatever the layout is, I just want to run well there and get the opportunity to kiss the bricks."
About Busch Light:
Busch Light is made with exceptional ingredients and has a crisp, refreshing taste that is as cold and smooth as a mountain stream. The beer brewed for the great outdoors takes cracking a cold one and heading for the mountains seriously, with passion points rooted in fishing, hunting, farming, NASCAR and country music. With focus and investment on meeting fans where they already are with a Busch Light in hand, the brand has experienced consistent growth since 2019. The Busch brand name represents a family of products including Busch Beer, Busch Light, Busch Ice and Busch NA. For more information, visit www.busch.com and follow Busch Light on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN
Brickyard 400: Shane van Gisbergen will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. Van Gisbergen will make his second Cup start at Indianapolis. In 2023, he made a Cup start in the Trackhouse PROJECT91 entry on the 2.439-mile road course. He started eighth and secured a 10th place finish, recording his second top-10 finish in his second career Cup Series start.
Xfinity Series at Indy: Van Gisbergen made his first Xfinity start on the 2.5-mile oval in 2024. He started 23rd and posted an impressive fourth-place finish.
Last Weekend at Dover: A flat right-front tire on lap 11 dropped Van Gisbergen from sixth-place to four laps behind the leaders. He spent the rest of the race trying to make up the lost distance and was credited with a 30th-place finish in the final rundown.
Three Wins on the Season: Van Gisbergen's Sonoma win ties him with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell with three Cup Series victories in the 2025 season.
Adding to the History Books: Van Gisbergen became the fastest driver to four wins in the Cup Series since Parnelli Jones in 1967 and the first since Jeff Gordon to win three consecutive road course Cup races from the pole. Van Gisbergen is tied with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the most Cup Series wins as a rookie (3). The Auckland, New Zealand native is the only driver not from the United States to win at least four NASCAR Cup Series races.
Playoff Bound: After this month's wins in Chicago and Sonoma, Van Gisbergen now sits fourth seed in the 2025 Cup Series Playoff standings with 17 playoff points. The Mexico City victory locked him into the playoffs, his first-ever appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. He also clinched a playoff spot in his full-time season in the 2024 Xfinity Series.
Two-Time Inaugural Race Winner: Van Gisbergen has etched himself into the NASCAR history books by winning two inaugural NASCAR Cup Series races. The New Zealand native captured the win in the first-ever Mexico City race in June, and in 2023, Van Gisbergen won his debut Cup Series race with Trackhouse's PROJECT91 at the Chicago Street Race.
Winning Crew Chief: Stephen Doran won two Cup Series races as a crew chief in July (Chicago and Sonoma). His first-career win came in June at Mexico City with Van Gisbergen. Doran is in his first season as Van Gisbergen's crew chief on the No. 88 Chevrolet and his second year as a crew chief at the Cup level.
Rookie Year: Van Gisbergen is a Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Van Gisbergen leads Riley Herbst in the rookie standings (374-251) entering Indianapolis.
Last Time in WeatherTech Colors: Last time Van Gisbergen piloted the WeatherTech colors, he dominated the Streets of Chicago. Van Gisbergen won Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Sunday's Cup Series race on the Chicago Street Course. Van Gisbergen led twice for 26 of the 75 laps. He took the lead with 16 laps remaining and persevered through two full-course cautions to claim the victory.
Van Gisbergen Quotes
It's been a big change for you in a short period of time and now we are over halfway through the 2025 NASCAR schedule - are you still enjoying the journey?
"It's an intense calendar and the schedule is crazy! The prep that we do every week is so intense. Every week there is something to do, something to learn, something to improve, simulator and prep time. It fills my days up pretty quick, but I love this sport. I'm really enjoying myself and I'm really loving all the new challenges. Every single week it's something different. It's been a really fun journey so far."
You have three wins now, are you allowing yourself to think about the Playoffs and what it could mean for you?
"Yes and no. We are continuing to build and keep the momentum going in the right direction. There are a few weeks to go until the playoffs so I need to keep learning and getting better on certain tracks and then hopefully we will have a good chance once it (playoffs) starts."
About WeatherTech:
For decades, WeatherTech has delivered on its promise of quality and craftsmanship through a commitment to American-made auto, home and pet products. Globally renowned for its laser-measured FloorLiner™ and innovative CupFone®, the Bolingbrook, Illinois headquartered company continues to push industry boundaries through superior design, engineering and international brand recognition. More information can be found at weathertech.com.
DANIEL SUAREZ
Indy Oval Record: Suárez owns three finishes of 11th-place or better in five starts on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. He raced three times on the road course, winning the pole and finishing third in 2023.
Indy 2024: Suárez finished eighth in last year's 30th annual Brickyard 400 at Indy. The finish came down to tire and fuel strategy through two overtimes with the drivers and teams that best timed their strategy to the cautions prospering. Suárez took a gamble and stayed on the track for the second overtime despite not knowing if he had enough fuel. He made it to the finish and finished eighth.
Cup Career Highlights: Suárez owns two victories (Sonoma 2022 and Atlanta 2024) and three Busch Light Pole Awards - Pocono (Pa.) Raceway July 2018, Kentucky Speedway July 2019, and on the road course at the Indianapolis Indianapolis in August 2023.
Personal Life: Suárez married Julia Piquet, daughter of three-time Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet, at a ceremony on July 30 in Brazil. The couple took a delayed honeymoon trip to Japan in the offseason. He is also now a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States. He took the American Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony on June 18 in front of media, friends, the NASCAR industry and NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps who gave the keynote address to the 48 new citizens from 28 countries who joined Suárez at the ceremony. The 33-year-old, Monterrey, Mexico native came to America about 13 years ago without speaking English.
Trackhouse Racing and Suárez Agree to Part Ways: Trackhouse Racing and Suárez announced on July 1 their mutual decision to conclude their partnership following the 2025 season. The move allows Suárez to pursue new opportunities in his racing career.
Suárez Quotes
Are you glad NASCAR is back on the oval at Indy?
"Indianapolis and Daytona are two tracks that when you come in the tunnel you get chills. The is so much history at Indianapolis and so many great drivers have raced there. You almost have to remind yourself to focus on not get caught up in all the history. Winning here would be so exciting and something you would talk about the rest of your life."
What are the keys to victory this weekend?
"We are going to have to quickly learn about the track and Freeway Insurance Chevrolet during that practice on Friday. That will be key. Obviously on Saturday, qualifying well and getting a good pit stall for the race will be important for the race on Sunday. The race will be all about executing with no mistakes on the track and in the pits. I think we are going to put on a great show Sunday and I plan to be at the front."
About Freeway Insurance:
Established in 1987, Freeway Insurance offers a “click, call, or come-in” approach to provide insurance coverage nationwide. Constantly evolving to meet market needs, Freeway delivers a diverse range of plans—from basic to premium—in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, homeowners, renters, motorcycle, RV, fire, flood, and small commercial insurance. Since joining Confie in 2008, the leading national personal lines insurance distributor, Freeway has expanded its reach through neighborhood offices, online services, and a dedicated hotline at (800) 300-0227. For more information, visit www.freeway.com or explore franchising opportunities at www.freewayfranchise.com
