Prayers to the racing gods have been answered. Indycar is adding an oval. The 2024 NTT Data Indycar season finale will be settled on the oval of the 1.33 mile Nashville Superspeedway. With so much negativity coming from the Indycar Series lately, fans got their wish today. In fact, I haven’t read or seen Indycar fans be this excited about an announcement in quite some time. Although the move to the Nashville Superspeedway sounds temporary.
According to various media outlets and the Indycar website Big Machine Label Group chairman and founder Scott Borchetta had this to say, “With the significant challenges of the proposed new course and unknowns with the new stadium construction, which has been the center of operations for the first three years of the Grand Prix,” Borchetta said, “there just isn’t the space needed by the race teams—nor the proper access for downtown businesses and residences—to execute the world-class event that is expected by our amazing fans, IndyCar teams and sponsors.”
Indycar has raced at Nashville Superspeedway in the past from 2001-2008. To say that Indycar fans are excited about the change is an understatement. Social media sites such as X and Facebook are lighting up as fans share their excitement of the announcement and there is reason. Six out of the last eight races of the season are now on ovals.
With all this excitement let’s hope all those Indycar fans show out. Nashville Superspeedway, which is in suburban Lebanon, Tennessee, is about 34 miles southeast of its current location in Downtown Nashville. It can be difficult to get in and out of the venue, but let’s hope that doesn’t deter racing fans from showing up and checking out the season finale.
This marks the first time since 2014 that the Indycar Series has wrapped up its season on an oval. The last coming in 2014 when Will Power took his first championship at California Speeday. Indycar has also announced that the IndyNXT Series will be wrapping up its season on the oval as well.
I’m sure it’s disappointing to some associated with the Music City Grand Prix. But let’s be honest, when was the last time Indycar fans were excited that a street course was replacing an oval race? Hopefully we see the same successful event at the oval as we have seen in downtown. Let’s just hope Indycar oval fans show up for what should be a very exciting race.
Per Indycar.com, Scott Dixon had this to say about the return to the oval, “I have some fond memories of Nashville Superspeedway. The racing was always intense and strategy was always key. Add the fact that it’s now hosting the season finale, and I have no doubt it will make for a fantastic show. While we’ll miss being on the streets of Nashville in 2024, I look forward to returning to a place that has been special to my career.”
Also chiming in was Nashville Native Josef Newgarden who said. “Nashville is a great market for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and a perfect host city for our championship finale. Wrapping the season on a high-speed oval is going to be really thrilling for everyone, most especially our fans. As a Nashville resident myself, I’m also excited Scott (Borchetta) and his team are still planning to host activations and entertainment downtown, ensuring the entire city feels the presence and energy of the weekend.”
Ok Indycar fans, mark your calendars, book a room, back your bag, and plan your trip. Let’s show out at Nashville Superspeedway. Let’s show that Indycar needs to get back to their roots with more ovals on the calendar. It’s up to the fans to make this event successful.