SPEEDWAY, Ind. — It’s been 25 years since Pittsboro native Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400.
It was the first time that stock cars raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — but not everyone was initially a fan of the idea that something other than IndyCar was racing on the famous 2.5-mile track.
Not even Bob Jenkins, the television voice of the inaugural Brickyard 400 on ABC.
“I think I mostly would have preferred that the Indy 500 was the only race at the speedway during the year,” Jenkins said. “On the other hand, I quickly drew to realize that NASCAR was gaining popularity by leaps and bounds, and I thought it was great the race fans and the drivers did get their wish.”
The turnout was incredible for the first Brickyard 400. An estimated 250,000 people — the largest attendance ever for a NASCAR race — came to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch history.
“There was great enthusiasm from everyone, from the fans to the drivers, especially,” said Jenkins. “They had desperately wanted to race at the world’s great racecourse, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
The end result could not have gone any better.
23-year-old Jeff Gordon, who grew up down the road in Pittsboro, wrote his name in the history books. And Jenkins had the call to go along with it.
“Years from today when 79 stock car races have been run here, we’ll remember the name… Jeff Gordon, winner of the inaugural Brickyard 400!”
Many things have happened from then to now, including Gordon winning four more Brickyard 400s. His last one came in 2014 — exactly 20 years after winning his first.
However, throughout the years, the attendance numbers at the Brickyard have declined.
“I hate to see it,” Jenkins said. “Because they deserve better.”
Jenkins mentioned TV ratings for NASCAR has continued to fall as well. He has a theory as to one of the main reasons why.
“Jeff Gordon, and other drivers who really were instrumental to increasing the popularity of NASCAR are gone. They’re retired.”
He also said people have become bored with the racing itself at IMS, saying stock cars were just never meant to race on flat tracks.
In the recent years, NASCAR has tried to make aerodynamic changes to the cars to make the racing more exciting. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has added a concert series during the weekend of the Brickyard, similar to Carb Day in May for the Indy 500, to attract more fans.
But will the continuous efforts bring back the enthusiasm fans used to have for the Brickyard?
“It will be difficult,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins retired from broadcasting motorsports in 2012, but that doesn’t stop him from going to the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 every year. He still works as the Public Address announcer at the track.
(Photo courtesy of IMS)
