Build Your Own Brickyard Experience is an interactive fan website that allows you to learn more about Brickyard experiences, choose how you would build your own experience, and then share what your Brickyard 400 experience looks like with friends and family. This blog series follows Brickyard 400 fans and their experience and tips for attending a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Are you a young professional? Read on to find out Annie’s tips for attending the Brickyard 400:
Tell us about yourself, your family, your friends, are you from Indianapolis?
My name is Jimmie McMillian. My wife’s name is Tamara McMillian. We have twin 2 year old boys Lance and Xavier. We are both originally from Chicago. I have lived in Indianapolis for 11 years. My wife has lived here for 6 years. We are both attorneys.
We are fully committed Hoosiers. We have a significant family presence in the city of Indianapolis. Our friends range from our colleagues in the Indianapolis Legal Community, to my fraternity brothers in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Tam’s sorority sisters in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and our motorcycle club brothers and sisters in 317 Ryders M/C. At various points and time throughout our time in Indianapolis, we have shared the joy of attending events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with our family and friends.
How long have you been attending the Brickyard 400 and do you attend any other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? I have been attending the Brickyard 400 since 2001. I have attended the Indianapolis 500 race. We attended the Formula One race with The Honorable Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. of the Indiana Supreme Court. As avid motorcyclist we have attended all of the Indianapolis Redbull MotoGP events.
What is your favorite part about coming out the Brickyard race?
The sights and sounds that are signatures of NASCAR racing. NASCAR fans are so visibly committed to their driver. T-Shirts, Hats, Coolers, Flags, Headsets. Each and every lap you can feel the eager anticipation that something may happen to bring their driver to the front. You can feel the power of the cars in the sound of the engines. Attending the Brickyard 400 makes you feel so proud to be an American. From the National Anthem and flyover to the winner crossing the row of bricks it is a great adrenaline rush. We sit in the Pagoda section across from Pit Road. The cars and paint schemes are great. To watch the Pit Crews perform is amazing. It is truly a bucket list experience.
Kurt Busch's crew executes a pit stop at the 2010 Brickyard 400
What makes the Brickyard special and different from other NASCAR races?
It is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the most historic raceway in all of motorsports. Everyone wants to be a winner in Indy. When you go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum you instantly understand the long history of this race track and its importance to the owners, drivers and pit crew that compete for the bragging rights to say I won in Indy and I kissed the row of bricks.
2010 Brickyard 400 Winner Jamie McMurray takes the Checkered Flag across the Yard of Bricks
What are your “insider” tips for someone attending the race for the first time?
Be prepared for a potentially blazing hot day. It gets very hot here in August. Come prepared with lots of water. Make sure you give yourself time to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum while you are at the track.
Share your favorite Brickyard memory and race moment:
Tony Stewart winning the Brickyard 400 in 2005 and climbing the fence. I yelled and screamed for every lap. I was constantly on my feet. I felt like I was in the car driving with him. I am a huge Tony Stewart fan. He is from Indiana. So many people in the stands were high fiving, hugging each other and just celebrating after the win. As we were walking to the car, everyone was in such a great mood. It was fantastic.
Ready to Build Your Own Brickyard Experience? Start by checking out what a Family experience might look like here.
Young Professional? Check out the last post in this series here!
[...] out your family. Read more about what a family experience might look like here. Young Professional? Check out the first post in this series [...]
[...] Bringing out your family? Read more about what a family experience might look like here. [...]
My family has been visiting IMS for many years. My grandfather has actually held tickets since the inaugural race of theBrickyard 400, and has never missed 1 yet! A week after the race last year we found out he was diagnosed with cancer. He’s recently celebrated his 81st birthday! And although it’s been a long and difficult year he’s once again looking forward to Sundays race! we’re leaving the decision to attend up to him. Weeks ago he received a letter informing him of the events he could per take in for being a ticket holder for so many consecutive years, unfortunately due to his condition he can’t partake in any except his name being published in the program. We all know how hard, and hot the day can be for someone in good health, as of now we have him a wheelchair, umbrella, lots of support and love to help on this special event. I’m putting this out with hopes of someone able to help my grandpa and 9 other famley members make this an even greater memory for us to have this last time! Please and thank you!
Someone should help these guys out and make it the best experince the grandfather could have it very well could be his last .
Hey there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and
let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure
why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.