Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day Trash Cleanup Highlights Community Efforts

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) turns into a wild scene every Memorial Day. It’s not just about the legendary Indianapolis 500—there’s also the massive post-race cleanup. This year, school groups and community organizations took that trash pickup and made it a fundraising event. The gravel under the grandstands of turn 4 ended up covered in leftovers from more than 300,000 people. Hot dog buns, beer cans, you name it. The cleanup was huge, but it brought young volunteers together for a good cause.

Memorial Day Cleanup at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Every year, the day after the Indianapolis 500, the Speedway becomes a massive cleanup site. This tradition keeps the venue looking sharp and gives local school groups a chance to raise some money. This year, Frankton High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Anderson University football team jumped in.

The Aftermath of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

The morning after the race, the gravel below the grandstands of turn 4 looked nothing like the day before. Hot dog buns, half-eaten fried chicken, crumpled chip bags, candy wrappers, and paper plates were everywhere. Empty beer cans—Bud Light, Busch Light, Miller Lite—seemed to be in every corner. You can really see what people like to drink at the race.

Community Involvement and Fundraising

The cleanup isn’t just about picking up trash. It’s also a way for these groups to raise funds. Every chicken bone and beer can they pick up means more support for their teams. Jonathan Coddington, Anderson University’s head football coach, said his team has done cleanups after Colts games and big concerts before.

Guided by Experience

Jim Hostettler, who’s been doing these post-race trash pickups since 1998, helped guide the younger volunteers. IMS can pay around $4,000 for cleaning stands H and J. But Hostettler really likes seeing different groups—especially kids—getting involved. “It’s good to let the kids know they’re doing it for the environment,” he said. There’s something satisfying about that, isn’t there?

First-Time Volunteers and Their Experiences

For a lot of these volunteers, this was their first time doing anything like this. Kaydence Banda, a freshman at Frankton High School, couldn’t believe the difference between the packed stands on race day and the quiet, messy venue the next morning. Banda’s reaction says a lot about how big IMS is and how much work it takes to clean it up.

Building Bonds and Team Spirit

Cleaning up was the main goal, but it also turned into a pretty great team bonding experience. Hadely Walls, a junior at Frankton High School, talked about how the group grew closer. They started their day just after 6 a.m., riding in white “Frankton Eagles” buses to Indy, ready to get to work. “It’s a great time to bond,” Walls said, thinking about the social side of the whole thing.

The Cleanup Process

The cleanup process had some real structure to it. After they finished the bleachers, Hostettler showed the volunteers how to clear trash under the grandstands. They separated cans and trash into different containers. With rakes, recycle boxes, and buckets marked “Keep Indy Clean,” the volunteers got to work. You could hear cans clinking as they made progress—honestly, it was kind of satisfying.

Environmental Impact and Future Prospects

The annual Memorial Day cleanup at IMS does more than just keep the venue tidy. It sparks a sense of environmental responsibility in the young volunteers who show up every year.

When students pitch in, they start to see why it matters to keep their surroundings clean. They get a firsthand look at how their actions can affect the environment, even if it’s just picking up trash after a big race.

This kind of hands-on experience gets them ready for other community service activities down the line. Sure, not every kid will turn into an eco-warrior overnight, but these cleanups definitely plant a seed for future environmental stewardship.