First Man to Win the Brickyard 400

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Filed under: NASCAR 

 

Dale Jr & Girlfriend Amy Reinman | Photo

 

First man to win Brickyard 400

 

Update: Here’s a hint — it is not Jeff Gordon. Here is the answer.

NASCAR Indy Trivia Contest

Who was the first man to win NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Big Bill France first approached the bigwigs at Indy about running a stock car race at Indy in the 1950′s but the Indy folks would have nothing to do with the rowdy stock car crowd.

So Big Bill decided to build his own track. You might have heard of it. A little place called Daytona International Speedway.

It would take about 40 years for the folks at Indy to come around and invite the NASCAR drivers over for what was originally going to be a one race deal called the Brickyard 400.

But the bosses at Indy didn’t really want the race to be a success. They even blocked off 20,000 seats from ticket sales so that the Brickyard 400 wouldn’t outsell the Indy 500.

So here’s the trivia question. Who was the first man to win NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indy.

Think you know who it was? Leave your answer below. We’ll draw from all the correct answers. The winner gets a license plate featuring the first man to win the Brickyard.

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Comments

163 Comments on First Man to Win the Brickyard 400

  1. RJ Balint on

    2. Jeff Gordon

  2. Tammy on

    3. Jeff Gordon

  3. Jan on

    4. Dale Jarrett

  4. Rick on

    5. Jeff Gordon

  5. Rita McDonald on

    6. Jeff Gordon

  6. Judith Hatton on

    7. Jeff Gordon won 2004 But the hometown boy of mine won 2005 while I was there. olumbuss is very proud of him

  7. Judith Hatton on

    8. Jeff Gordon won 2004 But the hometown boy of mine won 2005 while I was there. Columbus is very proud of him.

  8. TOMP on

    9. Rick Mast, 1994

  9. TOMP on

    10. Dammit, he was the pole sitter. Jeff Gordon won….

  10. joy hall on

    11. jeff gordon of course he is the best and will always be the best!!!!!!!!!

  11. angie on

    12. Jeff Gordon won. Dale Earnhardt was so excited to race at Indy and he grazed the wall in the first few laps of the 1st Brickyard

  12. Debra Lester on

    13. Jeff Gordon

  13. Sherry on

    14. the winner was Jeff Gordon

  14. Shelley on

    15. Jeff Gordon

  15. goldie on

    16. Well, oh well, if my ole mind serves me correctly, I believe it was that nice guy who drives the #24, Jeff Gordon

  16. Susan on

    17. Jeff Gordon

  17. blowsand on

    18. Jeff Gordon

  18. Carr Jones on

    19. Jeff Gordon in 1994

  19. maggie on

    20. jeff gordon

  20. Luther King on

    21. Jeff Gordon , was the first brick yard winner for NASCAR

  21. june brown on

    22. jeff gordenin

  22. june brown on

    23. jeff gorden

  23. Kasey's Ga Nana on

    24. Jeff Gordon (one of the best drivers ever to enter NASCAR).

    RacingWin Reply:
    July 21st, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    It’s not Jeff Gordon — feel free to try again!

  24. marcel on

    25. tony stewart

  25. Joycie on

    26. Jeff Gordon!

  26. Kevin on

    27. Jeff Gordon was the first man to win the brickyard 400 at indianapolis motor speedway on august 6,1994. 2nd 26-Brett Bodine
    3rd 11-Bill Elliott
    4th 2-Rusty Wallace
    5th 3-Dale Earnhardt
    6th 17-Darrell Waltrip
    7th 25-Ken Schrader
    8th 30-Michael Waltrip
    9th 75-Todd Bodine
    10th 21-Morgan Shepherd
    [edit]

  27. Kasey's Ga Nana on

    28. Tony Stewart (2005) is the one I attended and remember the most.

  28. John Koziol on

    29. four time winner Jeff Gordon won the first Brickyard 400 in 1994

  29. Dean on

    30. Jeff Gordon

  30. Dawn on

    31. Jeff Gordon

  31. Michele on

    32. Jeff Gordon

  32. allen morris on

    33. Jeff gordan won the inaugural race in 1994, Dale Earnhardt was the first MAN to win in 1995

  33. ed foley on

    34. jeff gordon

  34. ed foley on

    35. jeff gordon, i was there, and i was there when dale won it, too

  35. Kim on

    36. Jeff Gordon

  36. William on

    37. Jeff Gordon

  37. Joel Bailey on

    38. Jeff Gordan

  38. Kasey's Ga Nana on

    39. RacingWin stated (at 12:25) that it was not Jeff Gordon and I know it WAS Jeff Gordon. I became a fan of his when he was a ROOKIE and stayed with him all these years. I also hope he wins this year’s Brickyard 400. If he cannot, then I want to see Kasey Kahne win it. If Jeff takes first, then let Kasey take second, and vicesa versa. These are two GREAT drivers and two of the most polite and courteous drivers on the circuit. You don’t hear the awful radio chatter that some drivers seem to think is okay to use. I don’t see why anyone would not want one of these two in winner’s circle this year. GO KASEY and GO JEFF. Little Ella will put that lucky charm on you two for sure.

    RacingWin Reply:
    July 21st, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Okay, it’s not Jeff Gordon. Although I have to admit that the question is a bit tricky, and you will have to really know your NASCAR history to get this one right. Feel free to try again.

  39. mamadonia on

    40. JEFF GORDON!!!!! The big wigs at Indy didn’t want us hillbillies up there til they saw the $$$$$$$$$$ signs, just like Donald Trump, now he would love to build a race track.

  40. mamadew88 on

    41. We who have been aroung the block more than one time all know that it was …….(DRUM ROLL)………….JEFF GORDON

  41. Jim Chalmers on

    42. 1st Brickyard 400 winner was Bill Elliot

  42. ron lee on

    43. tony stewart

  43. Amie on

    44. Dale Earnhardt!

  44. James on

    45. Dale Earnhardt was the first man to win the Brickyard 400.Jeff Gordon was the first boy to win it.

  45. Ed on

    46. Dale Jarrett won the first Brickyard 400.

  46. Sherri on

    47. I’m guessing Ryan NewMAN

  47. Larry on

    48. Dale Earnhardt said that since Jeff Gordon was “a kid”, he (Dale) was the first “man” to win the race.

  48. robert on

    49. tony stewart

  49. Jay66er on

    50. Dale Earnhardt Sr. #3 Monte Carlo

  50. Louise on

    51. It was Dale Earnhart

  51. Sherri on

    52. My guess is Ryan NewMAN!!

  52. Bob on

    53. Tony Stewart

  53. Eric on

    54. A.J Foyt

  54. ricky on

    55. it was Dale Earnhardt Sr

  55. Bobby H. on

    56. Dale Jarrett was the first winner at Indy.

  56. Patt Martinez on

    57. It was Dale Jarrett, for sure!

  57. Jay on

    58. DALE EARNHARTH WAS THE FIRST MAN TO WIN THE BRICKYARD 400 BECAUSE GORDON WAS ONLY 20 AND DRUNK MILK

  58. Patt Martinez on

    59. He was the 1st to kiss the bricks too!

  59. Laurie hall on

    60. It was Dale Earnhart

  60. Dee Kilpatrick on

    61. A J Foyt

  61. Kevin Laffey on

    62. Stoddard Dayton that Louis Schwitzer won the first automobile race at the Speedway

  62. Sharon King on

    63. Dale Earnhardt was the first “Man” to win the Brickyard 400

  63. Terry Koenecke on

    64. DALE EARNHARDT #3 WAS THE FIRST MAN TO WIN THE BRICKYARD

  64. Tom McDonnell on

    65. Dale Earnhardt

  65. Jeanette on

    66. FOYT WAS THE FIRST TO EVER WIN THE BRICKYARD .

  66. TANK on

    67. DALE SR

  67. Helen Wagner on

    68. Lee Petty

  68. roland on

    69. tony stewart was first winner for nascar at indy

  69. Pam Hertzner on

    70. Dale Earnhardt!! He was the first MAN to win the Brickyard. Jeff Gordon was the first BOY to win the Brickyard!!

  70. Jean Nelson on

    71. Dale Earnhardt was the 1st man to win the Brickyard 400–Jeff Gordon was the first boy!

  71. mike manning on

    72. dale earnhardt jeff gordon was still cosider a kid remember the phase wonderboy

  72. DIONNE HAWKINS on

    73. AJ Foyt

  73. J.C. Blanchette on

    74. Dale Earnhardt was the first man to win the Brickyard 400

  74. Hootie on

    75. If it isn’t Jeff Gordon nor Dale Earnhardt (stated as a joke) and since the word “man” is used in place of “driver,” I’m going to guess Bill France,Jr. -”winning” the opportunity to have the event be raced at IMS from Tony George.

  75. Dale Jarrett on

    76. I Think

  76. Joel Bailey on

    77. The record book says Jeff Gordon won the first Brickyard 400 ran in 1994.

  77. Tony 4 Sure go Smoke on

    78. 4 Sure it was Smoke

  78. Dale Fan on

    79. Lee Petty

  79. mamadonia on

    80. Because it’s a bit tricky, possibly somewhere before Nascar started racing on a regular schedule; DALE EARNHARDT?????????

  80. Jay on

    81. Dale #3

  81. James Bledsoe on

    82. Dale Earnhardt Sr. Aug 5, 1995

  82. knm327 on

    83. Rick mast was the first pole winner Jeff Gordon was the first race winner but by age he was not a man yet so then that would have made Dale Earnhardt the first MAN to win at the brickyard 400

  83. LYNDA VADEN on

    84. DALE EARNHARDT SR

  84. goldie on

    85. My second guess……Bill Elliott

  85. poofer on

    86. Ah,I remember it like it was yesterday.The drivers boycotted the race,because of excess speeds and tire wear.France brought in anyone who could reach the pedals,and Richard Brickhouse won it. HA HA,sound familiar for a 1st race somewhere?

  86. Eddie on

    87. It was dale earnhardt himself upon winning who said he was the first MAN to win the brickyard!

  87. carroll on

    88. Jeff Gordon edged out Rick Mast for the Win in 1994

  88. Too Mean on

    89. Jeff Gordon..Carl Edwards still sux..lol.

  89. Mavis on

    90. Jeff Gordon

  90. Bryan L. on

    91. Several NASCAR teams were invited to a one-day test session at the speedway by track president Tony George in 1993, and the inaugural Brickyard 400 was held one year later.

    DATE RACE NAME POLE WINNER RACE WINNER STARTING POS. MAKE
    07/26/09 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Mark Martin Jimmie Johnson 16 Chevrolet
    07/27/08 Allstate 400 at The Brickyard Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson 1 Chevrolet
    07/29/07 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Reed Sorenson Tony Stewart 14 Chevrolet
    08/06/06 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Jeff Burton Jimmie Johnson 5 Chevrolet
    08/07/05 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Elliott Sadler Tony Stewart 22 Chevrolet
    08/08/04 Brickyard 400 Casey Mears Jeff Gordon 11 Chevrolet
    08/03/03 Brickyard 400 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick 1 Chevrolet
    08/04/02 Brickyard 400 Tony Stewart Bill Elliott 2 Dodge
    08/05/01 Brickyard 400 Jimmy Spencer Jeff Gordon 27 Chevrolet
    08/05/00 Brickyard 400 Ricky Rudd Bobby Labonte 3 Pontiac
    08/07/99 Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon Dale Jarrett 4 Ford
    08/01/98 Brickyard 400 Ernie Irvan Jeff Gordon 3 Chevrolet
    08/02/97 Brickyard 400 Ernie Irvan Ricky Rudd 7 Ford
    08/03/96 Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon Dale Jarrett 24 Ford
    08/05/95 Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon Dale Earnhardt 13 Chevrolet
    08/06/94 Brickyard 400 Rick Mast Jeff Gordon 3 Chevrolet

  91. Jean on

    92. According to research…the race was in 1994 with Rick Mast on the pole and
    Jeff Gordon was the winner. His name came up as winner on all the places
    I did research on.

  92. j.m on

    93. AJ Foyt ran NASCAR races and Indy. Maybe he’s the guy.

  93. june brown on

    94. bill holland in 1949

  94. HoneyOne on

    95. CURTIS TURNER

  95. Dawn on

    96. I have no idea, im guessing the KING-Petty

  96. Donna on

    97. Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race in 1994! But, Dale Earnhardt said he was the first MAN to win in 1995! So……Dale Earnhardt.

  97. Jean Nelson on

    98. The answer is Dale Earnhardt Sr. He was the first MAN to win–Jeff Gordon was a boy!

  98. Rita McDonald on

    99. Dale Earnhardt Sr, he said Jeff Gordon was the 1st boy.

  99. Joyce on

    100. Dale Jarrett won the Brickyard 400 race.

  100. William on

    101. starting in 1909, Ray Haroun won the first race, but I’m not sure it was a 500 miler,it might have been 400 miles. The first time I was there was in 1949, so my memory is clouded.

  101. Beth on

    102. I think the first driver to win WAS Jeff Gordon but when Dale Earnhardt won he said HE was the first MAN to win because when Jeff Gordon won he was still just a KID

  102. Linda Bruce on

    103. fireball roberts

  103. jeff on

    104. the first man to win the brickyard 400 was dale jarette

  104. William on

    105. As I think about your question of the first MAN to win, and Dale Earnhardt said Jeff Gordon was just a wonderboy, I’ll concede to your thinking and say Dale Earnhardt!!

  105. Will on

    106. Dale Sr. was the first boy, Sr. was the first Man!!!!

  106. Will on

    107. Correction, Sr. was the first Man, Jeffy was the boy!!!

  107. racefan on

    108. Fireball Roberts

  108. Marjorie on

    109. Tony Stewart

  109. Kimberly Taylor on

    110. Tony Stewart, 1994

  110. Jean Nelson on

    111. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the first MAN to win the Brickyard 400. Jeff Gordon was just a boy!

  111. Donna on

    112. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was the first man to win the Brickyard 400

  112. larry on

    113. the 1st man to win was dale sr. the winner was wonder boy

  113. mamadonia on

    114. Now that I look back on it, yes Dale Sr. said he was the first “MAN”,to win at Indy, of course Jeff was just wonderBOY, that is the nickname that Dale gave Jeff. In fact Dale toasted Jeff and Jeff had a glass of milk at the Nascar Champion banque in New York!!!!!

  114. Susan on

    115. Well, I’m gonna go with…. Matt Kenseth

  115. Anne on

    116. Dale Earnhardt made that comment even though he was the SECOND WINNER of the Brickyard 400. The anwer is really Jeff Gordon since he is the FIRST WINNER. Also Gordon was a “man” since he was over the age of 18.

  116. John Gee on

    117. August 6th, 1994, winner Jeff Gordon.

    http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/brickyard400/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1994

  117. Beverly Isbell on

    118. Jeff won the inaugural race, but it was more than 400 miles due to a green white checkered flag . . . so the winner of the first 400 mile Brickyard was Dale Earnhardt.

  118. Beverly on

    119. Oops . . . the first G-W-C was in the 2004 race. Jeff Gordon won the inaugural NASCAR race at Indy.

  119. myra cochran on

    120. It was Dale Earnhardt.

  120. Goldie on

    121. Good ole Google states Jeff Gordon won the first NASCAR Brickyard 400, so there!!!!

  121. Goldie on

    122. Ha Ha my third try and this time Google says Tony Stewart was the winner. I’ve tried everything so this is my last guess. Can’t figure why so many answers are coming up. Reckon this is a trick question!!!

  122. Dan on

    123. THE INTIMIDATOR…DALE EARNHARDT SR was the first “man” to win the Brickyard 400.

  123. Bobbie on

    124. not for sure but going for david kywicky (if spelled right ) still he was awesome

  124. Damon on

    125. It was Dale Earnhardt because Dale made the comment that after he won it finally a man has won the Brickyard 400. He was kidding Gordon because they considered him the Boy Wonder.

  125. Mindfreak on

    126. Dale Sr. was the first to win at the Brick Yard

  126. TAMMY CONKRIGHT on

    127. i read 0n here it was dale earnhardt sr that won it in 1994 he was my all time idol , i be in my recliner watch him race to i be in front of the t,v all the time to . i i root for him to

  127. Colleen Burdette on

    128. Dale Earnhardt won in 1995 and jokingly referred to himself as “the first man” to win the Brickyard 400, in reference to Gordon the previous year.

  128. Jason Johnson on

    129. The Big E……Dale Earnhardt Sr. was, and still is, the first MAN to win Indy!!! And still to this day is one of very, very few MEN to EVER be involved with NASCAR!!

    kick their ass JR.
    Go *88!!!!

  129. Dennis on

    130. trivia answer…..rick Hendrich

  130. Dennis on

    131. trivia answer …..rick Heindrick

  131. DL Millage on

    132. Kevin Harvick is the winner!

  132. Sandra on

    133. Rick Mast won the pole for the first Brickyard 400 for Nascar Drivers. Jeff Gordon won the first one in 1994, and Dale Earnhardt Sr won it in 1995, and when Dale Jarrett won in 1996, Dale Jarrett was the first Nascar driver to kiss the bricks.

  133. Danny Josey on

    134. Dale Earnhardt

  134. clay on

    135. I dont know what kind of trick question you are asking.But Jeff Gordon won the first brickyard 400.

  135. jeanW on

    136. Last I heard, it was Lee Petty that won the Indy 500 first.

  136. edith hege on

    137. I would like to say that Tony Stewart won the first Brickyard 400 in 1994!

  137. SHEILA on

    138. BIG E

  138. Mary Ellen Fowler on

    139. It was Dale Erhnhardt, Sr. who won the first Brickyard.

  139. ben hurst on

    140. dale earnhardt was the first man to win brickyard

  140. ben hurst on

    141. on a late night talk show earnhartd said he was first man to win, because jeff gordon was a boy.

  141. amanda on

    142. The winner was DALE EARNHARDT .Cause GORDON had the pole position.

  142. maggie on

    143. DALE EARNHARDT SR

  143. Adrienne on

    144. I think it’s Rick Mast.

  144. Darrell Wampler on

    145. RICKY RUDD

  145. DD Rogers on

    146. Juan Pablo Montoya

  146. Nikki on

    147. according to the website: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5475982/greatest_moments_in_brickyard_400_history.html?cat=27 It says Jeff Gordon was the first to win, and I copy from the site:

    1994 – the inaugural running of the Brickyard 400 took place on August 6th, 1994, and saw Rick Mast win the pole position. Mast, who also became the first NASCAR driver to lead a lap at Indy, went on to finish 22nd in the race. Second-year driver Jeff Gordon, who had just turned 23 two days before the race, took the lead late in the event and went on to win; he remains the youngest winner of the race.

  147. Bob K on

    148. Dale Jarrett

  148. Tam on

    149. Dale Earnhardt was the first MAN to win the Brickyard 400! Though WonderBoy won the first Brickyard 400.

  149. Troy on

    150. Rick Mast won the 1st Brickyard!

  150. Linda on

    151. Well it has to be a trick question since it was Jeff Gordon who won the first Brickyard 400. Maybe you consider Bill France the winner for pushing the idea

  151. wendy harris on

    152. The first man to win was Ray Harroun in 1911 when it was the innoapolias 500!!

  152. Hootie on

    153. I feel like I was the winner because I got to watch such a great race while in Indianapolis and Jeff Gordon win the Inaugural Brickyard 400 race.

  153. Hootie on

    154. Now…I see where you are coming from. You have taken the Tonight Show interview with Dale Sr. and the quote where Earnhardt stated that he was the first man to win the Brickyard 400. Jeff Gordon may have won the race, but he is just a boy. “I am the first man to win that race.” That was just Dale’s opinion. As a matter of fact, Jeff had just turned 23 years of age. In NASCAR’s opinion, Jeff was a man…man enough to enter, qualify and win the race.

  154. Maureen on

    155. IT WAS DALE EARNHARDT SR.

  155. bonny mcghee on

    156. my answer would be Bill Elliot, or Dale Earnhardt Sr., or Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip. these will be my guess. oh yes maybe Neil Bonnett.

  156. allen morris on

    157. Was it joe weatherly in a tire test there in the 50′s? seriously!

  157. alice cooper on

    158. Dale Earnhardt sr was the first “man” to win the brick yard 400 as a jibe at Jeff Gordon who was then known as wonder boy

  158. Ann Courtney on

    159. I feel it is Dale Sr. There have been many people that have stated Dale Sr. was the first MAN to win the Brickyard 400.

  159. racefan on

    160. so what’s the answer already?

  160. John Koziol on

    161. Fireball Roberts, Joe Weatherly and Marvin Panch

  161. Sarah on

    162. 1994: The first running of the Brickyard 400 in 1994 saw the largest crowd to-date to witness a NASCAR event, and the single-largest race purse to-date. Rick Mast won the pole position, and became the first stock car driver to lead a lap at Indy. Young second-year driver Jeff Gordon took the lead late in the race after Ernie Irvan suffered a flat tire. Gordon drove on to a historic win in NASCAR’s debut at the Brickyard. In an effort to attract more entries, the event was concurrently included on the NASCAR Winston West schedule. No Winston West competitors qualified on speed, but points leader Mike Chase made the field via a Winston West provisional.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia