Brickyard 400 : Ask Biography

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The Brickyard 400 is an annual 400-mile (644 km) NASCAR Sprint Cup points race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event, when first held in 1994, marked the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1916. In its first year, the Brickyard 400 became NASCAR's most-attended event, drawing an estimated crowd of more than 250,000 spectators in 1994. It also pays NASCAR's second-highest purse (second only to the Daytona 500).

The term "Brickyard" is in reference to the nickname historically used for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The course was paved in brick in 1909, and a one-yard strip of brick remains exposed at the start/finish line. From 2005 � 2009, the race was known as the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, under a naming rights arrangement with Allstate Insurance. In 2011, Big Machine Records became the presenting sponsor. For 2012, Crown Royal signed a multi-year contract to be the title sponsor of the event. The official title will reflect the "Your Name Here" program, (introduced at the Richmond spring race) and will honor U.S. military service men and women.

The winners of the Brickyard 400 are inscribed on the PPG Trophy, which is permanently housed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.