Pre-race Ceremonies
At the onset of the Brickyard 400 in 1994, track officials were determined to not detract from the traditional nature of the Indianapolis 500, and establish "new traditions" for the Brickyard 400.
Several of the key fixtures of the Indy 500 pre-race traditions were dropped or tweaked. The Purdue band was omitted, in favor of other schools from the state (Indiana State and Indiana University). The song "Back Home Again in Indiana" was decidedly not included, however, Jim Nabors was invited in 1994 to sing the national anthem. Unlike the Indy 500, a ceremonial pace car driver is not normally used in NASCAR, with only a few special exceptions. Chevolet has been the exclusive provider of the pace car for all editions.
In a slight contrast to the Indy 500, many of the national anthem performers invited have been from country music, as a gesture to NASCAR's ties to the south. Contemporary Christian singers have also been invited several times. Traditions that were kept include a balloon release, a flyby, and an invocation (The last two are part of every NASCAR pre-race ceremony). Rev. Howard Brammer of Traders Point Christian Church has conducted the invocation for every Brickyard 400 from 1994–2012; differing from the Indy 500, where the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is normally invited.
In 1998, for the first time since 1954, a person gave the starting command at the track who was not a member of the Hulman-George family. The president of NASCAR, Bill France, Jr. gave the command, celebrating the 50th anniversary of NASCAR.
Year | Pace Car | Pace Car Driver | National anthem | Starting command | NASCAR Starters | Honorary starter |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 | Elmo Langley | Jim Nabors | Mary F. Hulman | Doyle Ford | Stephen Goldsmith |
1995 | Chevrolet C/K 1500 | Elmo Langley | Steve Wariner | Mary F. Hulman | Doyle Ford | |
1996 | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | Elmo Langley | Rhett Akins | Mary F. Hulman | Doyle Ford | |
1997 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 | Buster Auton | Tracy Byrd | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
Stephen Goldsmith |
1998 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 | Buster Auton | The Marching Hundred | Bill France, Jr. | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
|
1999 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS | Buster Auton | Ricochet | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
|
2000 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS | Buster Auton | Melvin Carraway | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
|
2001 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS | Jay Leno (start) Buster Auton (race) |
Straight No Chaser | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
Chuck Conaway |
2002 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS | Kurt Ridder (start) Buster Auton (race) |
Jimmy Ryser | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
John G. Middlebrook |
2003 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Buster Auton | Montgomery Gentry | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
Larry Rockwell |
2004 | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Brett Bodine | Rascal Flatts | Mari Hulman George | Jimmy Howell Rodney Wise |
James Spencer |
2005 | Chevrolet SSR | Brett Bodine | Diamond Rio | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Dennis Haysbert |
2006 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Brett Bodine | Kelly Rowland | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Chris Noth |
2007 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Brett Bodine | Sgt. Byron Bartosh | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
James Denton |
2008 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Brett Bodine | Daniel Rodríguez | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
John C. McGinley |
2009 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Brett Bodine | Casey Jamerson Kristen Santos (ASL) |
Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Tyler Hansbrough |
2010 | Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport | Brett Bodine | Steven Curtis Chapman | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Dallas Clark |
2011 | Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport | Hope Solo (start) Brett Bodine (race) |
Rascal Flatts | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Scott Borchetta |
2012 | 60th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette | Ron Howard (start) Brett Bodine (race) |
Raul Malo | Mari Hulman George | Rick Monroe Rodney Wise |
Read more about this topic: Brickyard 400
Famous quotes containing the word ceremonies:
“Despite compelling evidence that she will be working at 35, by choice or necessity, todays 21-year-old woman has difficulty looking beyond the ceremonies of her marriage and her babies christenings.”
—Marilyn Bender (b. 1925)