Denny Hamlin ‘loves’ NASCAR adding Brickyard oval, Iowa Speedway to schedule

Denny Hamlin is in favor of NASCAR’s decision to bring back the Brickyard 400 next season, as well as running a Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway for the first time ever.

Speaking on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast Tuesday, Hamlin lauded NASCAR for going back to its roots by bringing racing back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

“We know we’re going to the Brickyard oval, that’s a great move, certainly a fan of that,” Hamlin said. “Really all the moves they’ve made so far, me as a driver, I love the moves. I think that it’s good, you’re kinda getting back to what what our identity is as a sport going back to the Bristol concrete. Brickyard we got going from racing in the infield to back to the oval. That’s great, because that’s the more historic facility. And if we go to Iowa, sounds like we are… I think that the crowd will be packed. To me, that will be no question that it will be a sold-out event.”

It’s been three years since the Cup Series ran the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the once prestigious race was altered into a road course at the track. NASCAR made the decision in hopes of providing a spark to its annual race at the race track. In 2007, 220,000 fans flocked to Indianapolis to see the Cup Series’ best. The last fan attended Brickyard 400 in 2019, meanwhile, drew just 60,000 fans.

Denny Hamlin excited to run race at Iowa Speedway

As announced Tuesday, Iowa Speedway will host its first-ever Cup Series race in 2024. NASCAR scheduled the race for June 16 at 7 p.m. ET.

Iowa Speedway hosted the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series from 2009-19. NASCAR purchased the track in 2013, putting the gears in motion for an eventual Cup Series race. The 0.875-mile oval seats approximately 25,000.

“For years, the Iowa community has patiently waited for the NASCAR Cup Series to come to town,” Brad Keselowski said. “It is with great pleasure for all of the racing community to announce they will finally see that dream come together. Iowa truly is a hotbed for motorsports fans, I saw that enthusiasm firsthand in 2009 for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and can’t wait to see the atmosphere on race day in 2024.”