If you thought watching six 27-foot-long hot dogs on wheels barrel around one of the most famous racetracks in the world was a one-time thing, think again. Oscar Mayer has officially confirmed that the Wienie 500 will return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22, 2026, just two days before the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. And this time, fans get a bigger say in who makes the starting grid.
- The inaugural Wienie 500 in 2025 drew 85,000 fans in the stands at IMS and 8 million more via livestream.
- Slaw Dog (Southeast) is back to defend its title along with Chi Dog (Midwest), New York Dog (East), Chili Dog (South), and Seattle Dog (Northwest).
- Fans can visit @Wienermobile on Instagram to cast their vote in the first-ever “Pick Your Dog” Wienie 500 bracket, choosing from seven new regional hot dogs or giving Sonoran Dog another shot.
How the Wienie 500 Got Its Start
Back in May 2025, Oscar Mayer did something that surprised just about everyone. The Wienie 500 marked the first competitive race for the Wienermobile fleet and the first time all six vehicles had gathered in the same place in over a decade. Ahead of that year’s Indianapolis 500, which draws more than 330,000 fans who consume nearly 30,000 hot dogs, Oscar Mayer’s beloved Hotdoggers made their racing debut on the very same track as the pros.
Six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles completed two laps on Miller Lite Carb Day, and it was such a success that the company said it had to bring it back. The inaugural race saw Slaw Dog (Southeast) take the checkered flag with a last-second pass across the yard of bricks. Each Wienermobile represented a different regional hot dog style, giving fans across the country a reason to pick a side and cheer.
What’s New for the Wienie 500 2026 Race
Oscar Mayer announced the second annual Wienie 500 will return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22, leading up to the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The full fleet of six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles will compete for the title of Top Dog. This year brings a new live nationwide broadcast and the chance for fans to get in on the action.
The biggest addition? Fan voting. Following a disappointing performance, the Sonoran Dog is officially relegated due to not cutting the mustard, leaving a spot open for a new regional dog to enter the competition. This year’s race includes a new element where fans will determine who the sixth entry will be through a bracket on Instagram, featuring a lineup of regional hot dogs to choose from, including Veggie Dog, Corn Dog, and Sonoran Dog.
Five returning racers are already locked in. Slaw Dog (Southeast) is back to defend its title along with Chi Dog (Midwest), New York Dog (East), Chili Dog (South), and Seattle Dog (Northwest). That sixth and final spot, though? It’s completely up to the fans.
Wienie 500 Race Day Traditions and the Full Experience
The Wienie 500 is scheduled for May 22 during the track’s annual Carburation Day festivities. For anyone unfamiliar, Carb Day is traditionally the final practice session before the Indy 500 and one of the biggest party days of the racing weekend. Throwing a Wienermobile race into that mix? It fits perfectly.
Many of the beloved traditions from the inaugural Wienie 500 are back for this year’s race, including custom Wienermobile decals, Hotdogger racing suits, the “Wiener Song” anthem, and the trophy presentation at the “wieners circle” podium, complete with a mustard spray and Borg-Wiener trophy.
Each Wienermobile will feature toppings representing an American regional favorite while carrying custom decals, and drivers will don Hotdogger racing suits. The whole setup is a playful take on real Indy 500 traditions. Think Victory Lane, but with condiments instead of milk.
The current Wienermobile tops out at 70 mph, but in 1988, Al Unser Jr. pushed one up to 110 mph racing around Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Don’t expect those speeds this time around, but the entertainment factor more than makes up for the lack of velocity. The 27-foot-long vehicles have a nearly 100-year history, with the first one being produced in 1936 by Oscar Mayer’s nephew, Carl Mayer.
Why This Silly Race Actually Matters
There’s a reason Oscar Mayer went all-in on bringing this event back. With 72 million hot dogs consumed every Memorial Day Weekend, the Wienie 500 reminds fans that anywhere is the perfect time for an Oscar Mayer Wiener, even a professional racetrack. The Wienie 500 is part of a partnership between Oscar Mayer and IMS that names Oscar Mayer the “Official Hot Dog” of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500.
The numbers from 2025 back it up. The spectacle drew 85,000 fans in the stands at IMS and 8 million more via livestream, while also selling nearly half a million more wieners. That kind of buzz from a hot dog race is wild, and it proves that sometimes the silliest ideas land the hardest.
Whether you’re a diehard IndyCar fan who treats the Month of May like a holiday or someone who just loves watching absurd things happen on a racetrack, the Wienie 500 has something for you. Grab your mustard, pick your dog, and get ready. May can’t come soon enough.
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