You gotta hear about this invention from the Indy 500

Naptown on the wire — we've been up since 5am, you just didn't notice.

So check this— you ever been at a tailgate, maybe out in the Coke Lot, just hanging out with friends, and someone says, "Man, we should combine football and bowling?" Probably not, right? But that's exactly what happened 25 years ago during the Indy 500. This game called Fowling, where you throw a football at bowling pins, was born right here in the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Now, there are Fowling warehouses all across the country, but the origin story, man, that's pure Indianapolis.

Alright, here's where it gets interesting— Chris "Chutt" Hutt and his crew, they were just messing around, trying to make some fun out of the downtime during race weekend. And this game, it just took off. It’s got that relaxed, communal vibe that you find at any good tailgate in Indianapolis, whether it's out at Lucas Oil Stadium or down on the Southside before a high school game. It speaks to that creative, inventive spirit we got here in the Midwest, where folks are always figuring out ways to make a good time even better.

### What This Means for Indianapolis

* **Another Naptown Original:** Just like the Indy 500 itself, this is something that started right here and spread. It's a reminder that we're more than just a pass-through city.

* **The Power of the Speedway:** The Indy 500 isn't just a race; it's a cultural phenomenon that inspires everything from lifelong friendships to new sports.

* **Community Spirit:** Fowling, at its heart, is about friends and family getting together. That's the essence of Indianapolis.

You know, it’s easy to think of the Speedway as just asphalt and grandstands. But for those of us who grew up going every May, it’s a place of tradition, of family, and sometimes, of pure, unadulterated invention. The fact that a whole new game came out of those campgrounds, man, it just feels right. It's another piece of our story that we get to share with the world.

DeAndre Simmons, MiTL Sports Desk, Indianapolis.

Dre and the crew talk about this kinda stuff all morning— catch 'em live at mornings.live.