This is America – Six Wienermobiles Will Be Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway This Friday in The Inaugural Wienie 500

The Drive – Forget about Formula 1, the Dakar Rally, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Something a whole lot more exciting is coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 23. Six examples of the Wienermobile will race against each other in what’s being called the Wienie 500.

We’re not kidding. We can’t make this up. Oscar Mayer is sending six Wienermobiles to the track for the first time, and it’s not just any old track. It’s the same circuit that will host the sold-out Indy 500 on Sunday, May 25. The winner will be crowned after just two laps of the 2.5-mile-long oval, Oscar Mayer told The Drive, and the same men and women who drive the Wienermobile across the country will race it.

It doesn’t sound like Oscar Mayer will make any mechanical modifications to the six hot dog-shaped trucks before letting them loose on the track, so don’t expect to see record-breaking speeds or to hear Formula 1-like exhaust sounds. We learned that power comes from a Chevrolet-sourced V8 engine, and that the 27-foot-long, 11-foot-tall body hides a frame similar to the one you’d find under, say, a UPS truck.

Each Wienermobile will represent a different regional hot dog. There’s the Chi Dog representing the Midwest (#1), the New York Dog for the East Coast (#2), the Slaw Dog for the Southeast (#3), the Sonoran Dog for the Southwest (#4), the Seattle Dog for the Northwest (#5), and, last but sure as hell not least, the Chili Dog racing for the South (#6). Each driver will wear a custom-made Hotdogger suit that we can’t wait to see. (https://www.thedrive.com/news/6-wienermobiles-will-race-for-glory-at-the-indy-motor-speedway-this-friday)

It's a bit of an interesting decision by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to host their premier race of the weekend at 2pm on a Friday. You'd think they would save the best for last. But I guess they're looking to start Memorial Day weekend off with a bang this year. Maybe they're thinking the 257,325 roaring fans (plus the additional 142,000+ in the infield) who gather this Friday afternoon to witness our country's six fastest Wienermobiles pitted against each other, will be so inspired by the event that they'll to stick around for the Indy Car race on Sunday as well.  

I have zero plans to watch Indy 500 this weekend. Honestly, I don't believe I've ever intentionally/willingly watched a full lap of the Indy 500 in my life. But I can tell you this. Come Friday at 2pm EST, if I'm at my computer and happen to remember that the Wienie 500 is taking place, I'm sure as shit going to be putting it on my laptop in a small window in the corner of my screen. That's a promise. 

Is it ok to cheer for "The Big One", in the Wienie 500? Because based on what I'm reading, the Wienie 500 has major crash potential. It's six wienermobiles racing around the track for two, 2.5 mile laps. Each wienermobile will be driven by a wienermobile driver. Not a professional race car driver. Just your every day, run of the mill, Oscar Mayer employed wienermobile driver. And based on my research, the wienermobile can top out at 110 miles-per-hour. 

WBKR – Fun fact: while this is the first time all six Wienermobiles will be in the same place and the first time they will have ever raced, it is not the first time a Wienermobile has graced the track. According to Mental Floss, "Race car driver Al Unser Jr. took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1988 and drove it for laps. The dog reached an impressive 110 miles per hour." (https://wbkr.com/indianapolis-500-wienermobile/)

And it sounds like Oscar Mayer isn't making any special modifications to their wienermobiles. We know wienermobiles are prone to tipping. We all remember the infamous wienermobile crash of 2024.

If you don't think these six wienermobile drivers are going to be cut throat around the track, then you don't know wienermobile drivers at all. They only make $35,000 per year. The chance at a $1,000 prize, being crowned the first ever Wienie 500 champion, and all the accolades that come with it. That could be life changing. Sponsorships, followers, book deals, pussy, it's all going to be rolling in for whoever takes the crown. If a wienermobile needs to clip the backend of another wienermoblie and send it tumbling into the infield around the final turn in order to win, that's what the wienermobile driver is going to do. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried we might have a bloodbath on our hands in Indianapolis this Friday. 

Personally, I'm conflicted on which wienermobile to cheer for. Considering I was raised in Ohio, I should probably be pulling for the #1 Chi Dog who's representing the midwest. But also, as an Ohio man, a man who bleeds Skyline Chili, I'd prefer to be represented by the a chili dog. So I don't necessarily have a dog in the fight here. I just want to see a good race. Ideally a photo finish. I want to see a wienermobile top 100 mph. As absolutely thrilling as it would be, I suppose I "don't want to see a crash". Only because I'm pretty certain rolling a wienermobile at 100+ mph would mean instant death. And we can't afford a death at the inaugural Wienie 500. 

It's all gonna come down to who wants it more. Whichever driver has the balls to put a lead food down on the pedal and not let up no matter how badly that weinermobile starts shaking like Michael J. Fox. Or whichever driver isn't afraid to risk their lives by running a fellow wienermobile into the wall. That's the wienermobile driver who's going to win this thing. 

This Friday, 2pm EST on the FOX Sports app. The Wienie 500. You don't want to miss it.