Corey Heim Wins 2nd Cup Race as Brickyard 400 Draws 70,000 to Criticized Indy Show
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
Corey Heim Wins 2nd Cup Race as Brickyard 400 Draws 70,000 to Criticized Indy Show
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
Summary
Corey Heim claimed his second NASCAR Cup Series win at Indianapolis, but the Brickyard 400 was quickly overshadowed by complaints about thin-looking grandstands, processional racing and a sluggish pace.
70,000 fans were said to be at the track, a solid NASCAR crowd in isolation, yet sparse at a 400,000-capacity venue and poor optics for a race long billed as a crown jewel.
Zero green-flag passes for the lead became the race's defining statistic, with drivers blaming the current car and one saying passing would require an Xfinity car instead.
45 minutes of caution time piled up before the final stage, including a 26-minute stretch with only one green-flag lap, fueling Kyle Larson's argument that many Cup races feel too long.
The result leaves NASCAR heading into an off week with Heim's breakout still intact, but with renewed pressure to fix a car package drivers and critics say is hurting the on-track product.