Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR driver and current broadcaster, has publicly criticized the Brickyard 400, stating it does not belong alongside NASCAR's most prestigious races.
Petty made his comments during an appearance on Gluckcast Live with Jeff Gluck, where he shared his thoughts on the Crown Jewels of NASCAR. According to Petty, the Brickyard 400 is not one of NASCAR's crown jewels because it debuted in 1994, which is relatively late in the sport's history.
"You don't just come along in the 90s and become a crown jewel," Petty said. He pointed to the sport's roots and the history of iconic tracks like Daytona and Darlington as the defining factors that make a crown jewel.
The Brickyard 400, which is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has regained prominence since NASCAR returned to the oval track in 2024 after three seasons on the road course. However, Petty's comments suggest that the event still lacks the tradition and history that defines NASCAR's crown jewels.
Petty emphasized that a crown jewel cannot be bought or created overnight. "You can't buy a crown jewel," he said. "I don't give a rat's rear end whether Indy paid $20 million, you're not going to buy your way towards a crown jewel."
The son of seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty, Kyle Petty competed in NASCAR's premier series for 30 years before transitioning into broadcasting. His comments on the Brickyard 400 are likely to spark debate among NASCAR fans and critics.
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in August for the Brickyard 400. Despite Petty's comments, the event remains one of the most highly anticipated races on the calendar.
Source: Yahoo Sports