INDIANAPOLIS — With the rumored move back to the oval here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2024, when looking back at the four-year history that NASCAR has used the 2.439-mile road course layout, you can’t deny that they got it right.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series first used the course in 2020. Chase Briscoe won. It’s not like that was a fluke. The Indiana boy won his first career Xfinity Series race on a road course (Charlotte ROVAL) and is no slouch on tracks that turn left and right.

For 2021, it was a Cup-Xfinity doubleheader. Austin Cindric won the NXS race, AJ Allmendinger the Cup. A year later, it was Allmendinger winning the NXS event followed by Tyler Reddick a day later. This past weekend, Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell won both races.

When looking at the names, they’re far from legends in the sport right now. However, when it comes to road racing, there’s not many better either.

Yes, all three Verizon 200’s were won by drivers scoring their second career wins in each at the time.

But, when looking at the bigger picture, they’re all road racing experts too.

Among Allmendinger’s 19 career wins across Cup and Xfinity, 13 of them are on road courses including both in Cup.

For Reddick, he’s won 4 times in Cup now. 3 of which were on road courses.

For McDowell, he has 3 career wins in Cup or Xfinity. 2 were on road courses. Same for Cindric. Both he and McDowell and even Allmendinger have road racing backgrounds before they even got to Cup.

Cindric has 15 career NASCAR wins (1 in Cup, 13 in Xfinity, 1 in Trucks) 5 of those were on road courses.

Even in the case for Gibbs too. 4 of his 12 wins have come on road courses including his first career one on the Daytona ROVAL at that.

So, while some may complain about the fraternity of winners on this road course, I say they’re the best of the best and very deserving. You can’t undermine these winners. They’re supposed to be kissing the bricks.