The 2025 Brickyard 400 delivered buzzy drama and historic significance. In a rain-delayed, double-overtime finish, Bubba Wallace made history as the first Black driver to win a crown jewel NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, holding off Kyle Larson in back-to-back restarts while closing out a 100-race winless streak. Earlier on Saturday, the Xfinity Series showcased rising star Connor Zilisch, who seized the win in Pennzoil 250, earning a spot amongst IMS’s youthful winners and underscoring the weekend’s unpredictability and depth of storylines. With such electrifying displays, the weekend reaffirmed IMS’s draw and glorious past.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t just another track; it is The Brickyard, a venue that carries motorsport lore dating back to the first Cup race in 1994 when Jeff Gordon led 93 of the 160 laps to victory. Drivers like Kevin Harvick and Gordon themselves have multiple pole positions at IMS, underscoring its status as a proving ground for racing excellence. It has been under Roger Penske’s ownership since 2020, with The Captain overseeing major facility upgrades and fan experience improvements. The oval’s legacy lies in testing driver stamina, car precision, and history, with every Sunday race seen as the pinnacle of a NASCAR season. But when Xfinity cars take to the big track on Sunday, Kevin Harvick argues that it blurs the line between subtraction and dilution of that storied prestige.

Kevin Harvick calls for a return to the old weekend format.

In his Happy Hour podcast, alongside Mamba Smith and Kaitlyn Vincie, Harvick echoed a strong preference for the traditional short-track setting, declaring, “The road course was awful there,” said Harvick, as he reflected on NASCAR’s brief three-year stint on the infield road course. “Our cars were meant to be on the oval and competing for a prestigious event like that. I’m glad they went back to the oval.” In 2021, the switch triggered visibility issues, tight corners built for open-wheel F1 cars, and several lackluster races. His blunt assessment aligned with drivers who lamented the road layout’s incompatibility with NASCAR machinery.

He also emphasized that Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) historically drew packed crowds and delivered intense, grassroots-style racing that complemented the prestige of the Brickyard 400. “And I still don’t believe that the Xfinity cars need to be at the big track. I think the Xfinity cars need to be back at IRP and racing with the trucks and everything that happens over there,” Harvick explained. Friday Truck races, Saturday Xfinity, and Sunday Cup at Indy’s short track were once the launching pad for stars and weekend Warriors. It is a vision rooted in tradition and driver development, a stacked program that’s been lost at Indianapolis.

Harvick warned that hosting Xfinity on Saturday at IMS could dilute the glory of the venue. “I believe that when you have that Saturday race, it kind of takes away from the Sunday race,” he continued. “It kind of waters the weekend down. We had a little break from IRP there back in the day, whatever disagreement they had with the track and NASCAR.” IRP’s Saturday Xfinity event served as a proving ground, staking drivers’ Saturday credentials before progressing to the main event. Harvick argues that the current format splits attention and weekend the spotlight to the Cup race, reducing fan anticipation and on-track storytelling depth.

The veteran placed responsibility partly on sponsors and networks as well. “I think that sponsors and TV had too much to do with the Xfinity cars going to the Brickyard,” Harvick continued. “I think that NASCAR just needs to say, ‘Hey, you guys need to be back at IRP,’ because they’re going to get to 10-15,000 fans. It was always just packed house, standing room only. And, you know, I believe that the prestige of Indy, Xfinity belongs at the very top level.” In his view, only Cup-level competition should occupy the Brickyard oval, while support series like Xfinity continue the tradition at IRP. That model fosters a crescendo, from local exuberance on Friday and Saturday to global significance on Sunday.

Co-host, Mamba Smith, also added to the sentiment, saying, “I think if we could go back to that model, I think it’d be better for the drivers, the teams, and the fans. I mean, it isn’t going to change the TV numbers.” It echoes NASCAR’s past rhythm, where every race had purpose, and the IMS was reserved exclusively for crown-jewel moments. Therefore, Harvick and others are calling for a return to narrative clarity, as top-level performances warrant top-tier stages.

Kevin Harvick breaks down why road course aces falter on NASCAR ovals.

International talents like Shane van Gisbergen, Marcus Ambrose, and Juan Pablo Montoya have thrilled fans with road course mastery but faced a steeper climb on NASCAR ovals. Harvick offered a blunt explanation for this, saying, “I think a lot of that just comes with what you grew up doing, right?” He also noted that SVG, Ambrose, and Montoya were all in contention at times, but their backgrounds naturally gave them an advantage on twisty circuits rather than high-speed, banked turns.

For Harvick, equipment plays a major role. Reflecting on Ambrose’s career, he said, “Ambrose was never in a very good car… I think he would have been very much so what SVG is currently if he were in a car of that caliber.” Ambrose’s time with mid-tier outfits like JTG Daugherty and Richard Petty Motorsports was limited to his oval results, while SVG benefits from Trackhouse Racing’s resources. Harvick praised both drivers’ adaptability, saying, “Their racing IQ is super high, and they’re great learners and great race car drivers at what they do.”

SVG’s ongoing progress on ovals is proof, with Harvick commenting, “I think that SVG has made a lot of inroads on his progression on the ovals, and I think that that is going to continue.” He contrasted SVG’s journey with Montoya’s, who found oval success when given competitive Chip Ganassi Racing machinery. In Harvick’s view, with the right equipment and experience, road course stars can become well-rounded threats across NASCAR’s diverse schedule.