NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG
The Place: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Track Length: 2.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, July 21
The Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $9,596,601
TV: NBC, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: IMS, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (160 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 160)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Pennzoil 250 Presented by Advance Auto Parts
The Place: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Track Length: 2.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, July 20
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,873,623
TV: USA, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: IMS, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (100 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 100)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: TSport 200
The Place: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Track Length: .686 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Friday, July 19
The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $672,492
TV: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)
The jewel has returned to the crown. Long considered one of the ‘Crown Jewel’ events of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, and after a three year hiatus on the road course, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway rectangular-shaped oval for the famed Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG on Sunday, July 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, IMS Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) has existed since 1909, and is considered the original “Speedway”, the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name. Located just west of downtown Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the third oldest permanent automobile race track in the world, behind Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile. With a permanent seating capacity for more than 250,000-plus people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is considered the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval) was August 6, 1994. The inaugural race won by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Gordon led 93 laps in the 160 lap event and beat Brett Bodine to the finish line by 0.530-second to win. The average speed of the race was 131.977 MPH, and it took 3 hours, 1 minute and 51 seconds to complete.
In total there have been 27 NASCAR Cup Series races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval) producing 19 different pole winners and 15 different race winners.
This weekend, the on-track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series will begin with 50- minute practice on Friday, July 19 at 2:35 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the NBC Sports App. Then Busch Light Pole Qualifying will be held on Saturday, July 20 from 1:05 p.m. ET and will be the USA Network, IMS Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Hamlin can join elite status of winning all four Crown Jewel NASCAR Cup events
Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG is considered one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ Crown Jewel events, along with the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500. But what makes it most intriguing is only four elite drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have won all four events in their careers – Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Crown Jewel event wins with 17 total.
This weekend there are 15 drivers entered in the Brickyard 400 that have won at least one of the Crown Jewel events in their careers, and one driver has the opportunity to add the final jewel to his crown on Sunday – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. If Hamlin can win this weekend at Indianapolis, he will become the fifth different driver to win all four Crown Jewel events in his career.
Two other active drivers that are also looking for their final jewel to their crowns are RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, but both still need a Daytona 500 victory.
| NASCAR Crown Jewel Events & Winners | |||||
| Drivers | Brickyard 400 | Daytona 500 | Coke 600 | Southern 500 | Total |
| Jeff Gordon | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| Kevin Harvick | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Dale Earnhardt | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Drivers with Three of the Four Crown Jewel Wins | |||||
| Richard Petty | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Bobby Allison | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Denny Hamlin | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Darrell Waltrip | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| David Pearson | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Dale Jarrett | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Bill Elliott | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Buddy Baker | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Matt Kenseth | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Bobby Labonte | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Brad Keselowski | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| LeeRoy Yarbrough | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Active Drivers with at least one Crown Jewel win | |||||
| Martin Truex Jr | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Austin Dillon | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Kyle Larson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Erik Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Austin Cindric | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joey Logano | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Michael McDowell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| William Byron | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Christopher Bell | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ryan Blaney | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Clinch Scenarios: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Race No. 22
Only five races remain in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 regular season (Indianapolis, Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington) and it’s that time of year we break out the calculators and start hammering the numbers to see who needs what to clinch their spot in the Playoffs.
Already Clinched
The following five drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell.
Can Clinch Via Previous Wins
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez:
- Chase Elliott: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Tyler Reddick: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Brad Keselowski: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Bowman: Could only clinch with help
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric:
- Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 4 points
- Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 19 points
- Brad Keselowski: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric
The following drivers could clinch with a win:
- Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help
Playoffs are steadily approaching
Looking at the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Playoff standings outlook, several big names are below the cut line and with just five races left in the regular season the pressure is mounting to earn a spot in the postseason.
Rolling into this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 12 drivers have earned a spot in the Playoffs by virtue of their wins – Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez and Austin Cindric.
The four drivers currently occupying the four open transfer spots on points in the Playoff outlook are Martin Truex Jr. (+137 points), Ty Gibbs (+67), Chris Buescher (+44) and Ross Chastain (+27).
Just below the postseason cutline in the Playoff outlook standings are Bubba Wallace in 17th (-27 points), Chase Briscoe in 18th (-75 points) and two-time series champion Kyle Busch in 19th (-102 points).
| 2024 Top 34 In Points | 2024 Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 21 | |||||||||
| Rank | Driver | Pts | Ldr. | Rank | Driver | Points | Wins | Stages | Playoff Pts | Pts From Cutoff |
| 1 | Chase Elliott | 703 | 0 | 1 | Kyle Larson | 700 | 3 | 8 | 23 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Kyle Larson | 700 | -3 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 683 | 3 | 5 | 20 | |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 688 | -15 | 3 | William Byron | 646 | 3 | 1 | 16 | |
| 4 | Denny Hamlin | 683 | -20 | 4 | Christopher Bell | 616 | 3 | 9 | 24 | |
| 5 | William Byron | 646 | -57 | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 627 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 640 | -63 | 6 | Chase Elliott | 703 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 627 | -76 | 7 | Tyler Reddick | 688 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 8 | Christopher Bell | 616 | -87 | 8 | Brad Keselowski | 599 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | 599 | -104 | 9 | Alex Bowman | 596 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 10 | Alex Bowman | 596 | -107 | 10 | Joey Logano | 522 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 11 | Ty Gibbs | 570 | -133 | 11 | Daniel Suarez | 431 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 12 | Chris Buescher | 547 | -156 | 12 | Austin Cindric | 408 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 13 | Ross Chastain | 530 | -173 | 13 | Martin Truex Jr. | 640 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 137 |
| 14 | Joey Logano | 522 | -181 | 14 | Ty Gibbs | 570 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 67 |
| 15 | Bubba Wallace | 503 | -200 | 15 | Chris Buescher | 547 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 44 |
| 16 | Chase Briscoe | 455 | -248 | 16 | Ross Chastain | 530 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 |
| 17 | Daniel Suarez | 431 | -272 | 17 | Bubba Wallace | 503 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -27 |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | 428 | -275 | 18 | Chase Briscoe | 455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -75 |
| 19 | Austin Cindric | 408 | -295 | 19 | Kyle Busch | 428 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -102 |
| 20 | Todd Gilliland | 403 | -300 | 20 | Todd Gilliland | 403 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -127 |
| 21 | Josh Berry # | 386 | -317 | 21 | Josh Berry # | 386 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -144 |
| 22 | Michael McDowell | 378 | -325 | 22 | Michael McDowell | 378 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -152 |
| 23 | Carson Hocevar # | 358 | -345 | 23 | Carson Hocevar # | 358 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -172 |
| 24 | Noah Gragson | 354 | -349 | 24 | Noah Gragson | 354 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -176 |
| 25 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 343 | -360 | 25 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 343 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -187 |
| 26 | Erik Jones | 320 | -383 | 26 | Erik Jones | 320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -210 |
| 27 | Ryan Preece | 318 | -385 | 27 | Ryan Preece | 318 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -212 |
| 28 | Daniel Hemric | 309 | -394 | 28 | Daniel Hemric | 309 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -221 |
| 29 | Justin Haley | 302 | -401 | 29 | Justin Haley | 302 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -228 |
| 30 | Corey LaJoie | 301 | -402 | 30 | Corey LaJoie | 301 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -229 |
| 31 | John Hunter Nemechek | 293 | -410 | 31 | John Hunter Nemechek | 293 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -237 |
| 32 | Austin Dillon | 270 | -433 | 32 | Austin Dillon | 270 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -260 |
| 33 | Harrison Burton | 237 | -466 | 33 | Harrison Burton | 237 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -293 |
| 34 | Zane Smith # | 228 | -475 | 34 | Zane Smith # | 228 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -302 |
| Note: Kyle Larson and Erik Jones have received a waiver from NASCAR to be eligible for the Playoffs. | ||||||||||
Currently, there are seven former Cup Playoff drivers below the postseason cut line – Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Busch, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Erik Jones and Austin Dillon. Probably most notable is two-time series champion Kyle Busch, who has made the Playoffs 16 times in his career (second-most) and hasn’t missed a postseason since 2012.
Qualifying well is imperative at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A total of 17 different starting positions on the grid have resulted in wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (five) than any other starting position at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series – a 18.52% winning percentage.
Drivers starting inside the top-10 have won 17 of 27 NASCAR Cup Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – a winning percentage of 62.9%. The deepest in the field that a Cup Series race winner has started at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is 27th, by Jeff Gordon in 2001.
A total of 19 different drivers have won the pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. Driver Rick Mast won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994 with a speed of 172.414 MPH. Mast, driving a Richard Jackson owned Ford, led two laps and finished 22nd in the event.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (1995, 1996, 1999) and Kevin Harvick (2003, 2014, 2019) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with three poles each.
This weekend, three of the 19 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Cup Series pole winners are entered in the race, led by Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch with two poles. If Busch were to win a pole this weekend, he would tie Gordon and Harvick for the series-most poles at Indianapolis with three each.
| Active Indianapolis Pole Winners | Poles | Seasons |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2017, 2016 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2012 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 1 | 2008 |
Jimmie Johnson can tie Jeff Gordon for most Indianapolis wins all-time
Legacy Motor Club driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson is entered in this weekend’s Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG as part of his limited schedule this season. The seven-time Cup Series champion comes into the weekend with the opportunity to tie fellow Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for the series-most victories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with five each.
Gordon currently leads the series in wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with five victories (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014); including the inaugural event at the historic track in 1994.
Johnson leads all active drivers in wins and his Indianapolis resume is nearly as impressive a Gordon’s with four victories, all within a six year period (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012).
In total, Johnson has made 18 Cup Series starts at Indianapolis posting four wins, six top fives and seven top 10s.
Kyle Busch needs to rebound, Indianapolis could be the place
Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch has hit a mid-summer slump finishing 24th or worse in four of his last six races dropping him to 19th in the Playoff outlook standings 102 points back from the postseason cutoff. But that could all change this weekend with the return of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval to the NASCAR Cup series schedule.
Only three former NASCAR Cup Series Indianapolis Motor Speedway race winners are entered this weekend, Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with four wins (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012), followed by Kyle Busch with two victories (2015, 2016), and Brad Keselowski with one win (2018).
Interestingly, Jimmie Johnson (2008-09) and Kyle Busch (2015-16) are the only two drivers to win consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And Busch is the only driver to sweep both NASCAR national series races (NCS, NXS) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the pole in the same weekend.
In total, Busch has made 16 Cup starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway posting two poles, two wins, five top fives and 12 top 10s (most among active drivers).
The battle for the Regular Season Championship heats up
With just five races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the battle between Hendrick Motorsport’s teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson for the Regular Season Championship is heating up, as both are shooting for the title and the additional 15 Playoff bonus points that come with it.
Elliott is one of seven different drivers to occupy the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings lead this season, along with William Byron, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. The Georgia native, Elliott, is currently three points ahead of Larson heading into Indianapolis.
Both Larson (2021) and Elliott (2022) are former NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship winners, and if either of them wins this season, they will join Martin Truex Jr. (2017, 2023) and Kyle Busch (2018, 2019) as the third multiple regular season title holder.
Regular Season Championship Clinch Scenarios:
Elliott (or whoever’s first in points) needs to be up by the corresponding number after the race to clinch:
Indianapolis – 240 or 241 points, depending on tie-break
Richmond – 180 or 181 points, depending on tie-break
Michigan – 120 or 121 points, depending on tie-break
Daytona – 60 or 61 points, depending on tie-break
Darlington – 0 or 1 point, depending on tie-break
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Daniel Suarez to race in NASCAR Brasil Series’ Special Edition – NASCAR announced this week that NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez will plan to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series’ Special Edition, a tournament that runs parallel to the main competition, behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, the weekend of August 2-4.
While the world looks on to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, Suárez will participate in another international competition. The Monterrey, Mexico native, who will already be in Brazil to celebrate his wedding day with fiancée Julia Piquet, will make the stop in São Paulo before his return to the United States for a couple of days of racing action at the world-renowned racing circuit.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series,” said Suárez. “Not only is this an opportunity to try something new, but with my fiancée’s family roots in Brazil, it gives me a chance to race in a place that she calls home. I am equally excited to support all the people at NASCAR who have helped me along my journey to the NASCAR Cup Series. Hopefully, we can have some fun and bring some attention to the series from outside Brazil along the way.”
Suárez welcomed the invitation to compete in the international series while the NASCAR Cup Series enjoys a two-week hiatus in the 38-race season for the Olympic break. He also competed in a separate international event earlier this year in the NASCAR Mexico Series race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he drove to victory in his first series start since 2014.
Launched in 2022, the NASCAR Brasil Series is the sanctioning body’s fourth international series and first in South America. The series began competition in 2023 as a partnership between NASCAR and the GT Sprint Race series in Brazil.
“We are extremely excited to have Daniel join us once again for an international race,” said Chad Seigler, Vice President, Chief International Officer at NASCAR. “As NASCAR continues to grow and expand on a global scale, we want to showcase that our international series provide the competition level, resources and industry connections to help the most talented competitors advance their careers.”
Brazil’s strong motorsports culture has extended to NASCAR over the past 20 years. Three Brazilian-born drivers have competed in NASCAR in the United States – Christian Fittipaldi made 15 Cup Series starts in 2003, Nelson Piquet Jr. started 83 races across NASCAR’s three national series from 2010-16 winning three times, and Miguel Paludo has 81 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, including three this past season.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year update – Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry currently holds the NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings by 28 points over Spire Motorsport’s Carson Hocevar in second place.
Holding onto third in the Cup rookie standings is Hocevar’s Spire Motorsport’s teammate Zane Smith (-158 points back from Berry) and in fourth is Rick Ware Racing’s Kaz Grala (-220 points back from Berry).
All four rookies will be making their NASCAR Cup Series track debuts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend.
Milestone Watch: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Below are the possible milestones that can be achieved this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway or in coming weeks in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Starts
Kyle Busch will make his 700th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday becoming the 19th different driver in series history to make 700 or more starts.
In his previous 699 starts, Busch has accumulated two NASCAR Cup Series championships (2015, 2019), two NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season titles (2018, 2019), five Championship 4 appearances (tied for series-most), 16 Playoff appearances (second-most all-time), 63 race wins, 248 top fives, 378 top 10s, and 34 poles.
Busch will look to become the first driver in series history to win on their 700th career start.
Harrison Burton is expected to make his 100th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski is expected to make his 550th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Wins
Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.
Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.
Joey Logano currently has 33 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. for 25th on the all-time wins list with 34 victories each.
Track Specific
Most Poles By Driver: If Kyle Busch wins the pole this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he will tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon(1995, 1996, 1999)and Kevin Harvick(2003, 2014, 2019) for the most NASCAR Cup Series poles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with three poles each.
Most Poles By Organization: If a driver from either Joe Gibbs Racing or Hendrick Motorsports wins the pole this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it will break the tie the two organizations have for the most poles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at five each, and the pole winner’s organization will become solely the leader in poles at Indianapolis (oval) in the series.
Most Wins By Driver: Legacy Motor Club’s Jimmie Johnson has four NASCAR Cup Series wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (most among active drivers) and has the opportunity to tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (five wins) for the most wins at the track this weekend.
Crew Member Spotlight: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Weekend – This weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Indianapolis.
| INDIANA | ||||
| Name | Organization | Team | Current Role | Hometown |
| John Rosselli | Legacy Motor Club | 43 | Front Tire Changer | Terre Haute, IN |
| Evan Marchal | Stewart-Haas Racing | 4 | Fueler/NextGen VAST Manager | Westfield, IN |
| Jeff Swearengin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 54 | Interior Mechanic/Tire Specialist | Elkhart, IN |
| Frank Kimmel II | Trackhouse Racing | 99 | Spotter | Jeffersonville, IN |
| Branden Lines | Hendrick Motorsports | 24 | Spotter | Indianapolis, IN |
NASCAR fans can check out the Hauler Parade on Thursday, July 18 – The NASCAR Hauler Parade returns to kick off Brickyard Weekend on Thursday, July 18. Haulers will drive down Main Street in Speedway in an epic display of color and excitement.
Following the parade, the haulers will be displayed on Main Street, where fans can get an up-close look at their favorite driver’s hauler while enjoying free entertainment, special guest appearances, race-themed activities, photo opportunities and more. The family-friendly event is free for fans of all ages. In addition, Main Street establishments will be open for business and ready to welcome fans.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)
After tackling the tricky triangle of Pocono Raceway last weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series speeds to the ‘Racing Capital of the World’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 250 Presented by Advance Auto Parts on Saturday, July 20, at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, the NBC Sports App, IMS Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Returning this year is the historic 2.5-mile oval configuration that was used from 2012-2019 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. During that span, there were five different race winners and three different pole winners.
Additionally, a total of four races were won from the pole or first starting position, with Kyle Busch being the last to do so in 2019.
Busch was dominant during the Xfinity Series’ tenure of running the oval, holding the record in race wins (seven), pole wins (seven), and top-fives (seven).
Paul Menard holds Xfinity Series Indianapolis Motor Speedway record for the most top-10s at the track at six, while seasoned Xfinity Series veteran Jeremy Clements takes the nod for the most starts on the oval with eight – running every race prior to the introduction of road course in 2020.
On-track action kicks off on Friday, July 19, beginning with practice at 1:05 p.m. ET. Qualifying will take place on Saturday, July 20, at 12:05 p.m. ET, on the USA Network and streaming on the NBC Sports App.
Justin Allgaier: The sole victor on the Indianapolis oval
Only one driver on Saturday’s entry list that has scored a victory on the oval configuration at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and done the ceremonious kissing of the bricks is JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier.
Allgaier has made six previous starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, earning a win (2018), three top-five and three top-10 finishes during that span.
He’ll look to improve on a runner-up finish in 2019 in his seventh outing at the track on Saturday.
Drivers To Watch: Indianapolis Motor Speedway edition
As JR Motorsport’s Justin Allgaier has his sights set on becoming a multi-time winner at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a plethora of other drivers will look to come away victorious as well.
The most recent driver to win at a returning track on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is Allgaier’s teammate, Sam Mayer. The driver of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet won in his first start in NASCAR’s return to Iowa Speedway earlier this summer, and he’ll look to carry over that success in his first attempt on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. In 2024, Mayer has accumulated two wins, seven top fives, and 10 top 10s, all of which are career highs up to this point of the season. The 21-year-old will look to tie rookie Shane Van Gisbergen for the most wins this season and increase his Playoff point total with just four races left in the regular season.
After finally securing his first win of the season at Pocono Raceway last weekend, the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer carries a lot of momentum into a track with remarkably similar characteristics. In three previous starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2017-2019, Custer garnered one top-five and two top-10 finishes prior to going full-time Cup racing in 2020. Returning to the oval still atop the point standings, the pilot of the No. 00 will hope to make it two wins in row and further legitimize his shot at repeating as champion in 2024.
A winner on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in both the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series in 2021 and 2022, respectively, a win is certainly due for AJ Allmendinger and the No. 16 team. With numerous starts on the oval configuration across the Cup Series and IndyCar, Allmendinger will certainly be one to watch after a sixth-place outing at Pocono. Sitting fifth in the points standings, he’ll hope to kiss the bricks for a third time on Saturday and lock-in his Playoff bid for good.
Xfinity Series Playoff picture coming into focus following Pocono
With last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer returning to Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway and earning his first win of the season, only five spots still remain up for grabs in the 12-driver Playoff field, with just seven races left in the regular season.
Seven drivers have now earned themselves a spot in the Playoff grid by virtue of their wins this season; including Shane van Gisbergen, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love.
Heading into this weekend, AJ Allmendinger (+98), Riley Herbst (+94), Sheldon Creed (+77), Parker Kligerman (+58), and Sammy Smith (+22) occupy the final five open spots in the Playoff outlook standings.
Ryan Sieg (-22), Brandon Jones (-76), and Anthony Alfredo (-95) currently stand as the first three drivers below the Playoff cut line.
Here’s how the Playoff standings look heading into Indianapolis:
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Projection Following Pocono Raceway – 7/13/2024 | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 463 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 17 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Chandler Smith | 657 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 15 | |
| 3 | Austin Hill | 640 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 13 | |
| 4 | Sam Mayer | 501 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 11 | |
| 5 | Cole Custer | 716 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 6 | Justin Allgaier | 665 | 19 | 1 | 11 | 16 | |
| 7 | Jesse Love # | 563 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 9 | |
| 8 | AJ Allmendinger | 564 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 |
| 9 | Riley Herbst | 560 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 94 |
| 10 | Sheldon Creed | 543 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| 11 | Parker Kligerman | 524 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 58 |
| 12 | Sammy Smith | 488 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| 13 | Ryan Sieg | 466 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -22 |
| 14 | Brandon Jones | 412 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -76 |
| 15 | Anthony Alfredo | 393 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -95 |
| 16 | Brennan Poole | 337 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -151 |
| 17 | Parker Retzlaff | 315 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -173 |
| 18 | Josh Williams | 308 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -180 |
| 19 | Jeb Burton | 268 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -220 |
| 20 | Jeremy Clements | 267 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -221 |
| 21 | Leland Honeyman # | 258 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -230 |
| 22 | Kyle Weatherman | 254 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -234 |
| 23 | Ryan Ellis | 238 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -250 |
| 24 | Blaine Perkins | 195 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -293 |
Currently, there are five former NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff drivers below the postseason cut line heading into Indianapolis; including Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, Brennan Poole, Jeb Burton and Jeremy Clements. Brandon Jones has made the Xfinity Playoffs six times in his career, second-most in series history (2022, ’21, ’20, ’19, ’18, ’16). He also has four starts at the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis with four top-10 finishes to go along with – the most among active drivers this weekend.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Josh Berry to make second Xfinity start of the season – NASCAR Cup Series driver Josh Berry will make his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start of 2024 this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing.
The five-time career race winner made his official return to the series last weekend at Pocono Raceway, placing 27th. Having never ran at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval configuration prior to this weekend, Berry will look to improve on his previous outing at a brand-new track for the 33-year-old.
The Pennzoil 250 will mark the third straight event that AM Racing has utilized a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver to pilot their vehicle, with Joey Logano making a start at the Chicago Street Course and Berry getting the nod at Pocono.
Carson Kvapil makes his sixth Xfinity start of 2024 – Carson Kvapil will pilot the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet once more this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It will be his sixth start of the season. In his previous five starts, he has put up three top fives, three top 10s, 38 laps led, and an average finish of 8.4.
The 2.5-mile oval of Indianapolis Motor Speedway will mark the largest track Kvapil has ever run on to this point in his career.
Confirmed remaining race dates for the 21-year-old second generation driver in the Xfinity Series include Michigan, Darlington, and Talladega.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Racing under the lights at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (LOIRP)
After a stellar weekend in the Pocono Mountains, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the TSport 200 on Friday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This historic track houses a 0.686-mile paved oval located in Clermont, Indiana. Since the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ inception in 1995, this famed short track has hosted 19 series races. In that span, there have been 14 different pole winners and 14 different race winners.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in wins at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with four victories (1997, 2007, 2009, 2010).
The inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at LOIRP was won by Mike Skinner, piloting the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Skinner went on to win the series championship that same year.
Below are the drivers who have engraved their names in the LOIRP Truck Series record books:
- Race record: Greg Biffle 88.704 mph (08/05/1999)
- Qualifying record: Joe Ruttman 111.843 mph (08/03/2000)
- Most races: Dennis Setzer (14)
- Most poles: Terry Cook, Joe Ruttman, and Mike Skinner (2)
- Most wins: Ron Hornaday Jr. (4)
- Most top fives: Ron Hornaday Jr. (9)
- Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (10)
- Laps led: Ron Hornaday Jr. (505)
Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying will surely be key for the competitors who hope to secure one of the six remaining Playoff spots with a win this weekend. Only twice has the winner come from a starting position outside of the top five. In 2011, Timothy Peters started in 16th and Johnny Benson Jr. started eighth in 2008. The pole winner has gone on to win five of the 19 races. In addition, the winner has started on the front row nine separate times – most recently was Ty Majeski (2023).
Practice will begin Friday, July 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 4:05 p.m. ET.
LOIRP Is The Place To Be: Surplus of talent to keep an eye on
While only two previous winners are entered this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, there are plenty of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend.
Ty Majeski: Although the driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford has faced some struggles this season, he is in contention to make the Playoffs. The Seymour, Wisconsin native has made two starts at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The most recent winner at LOIRP has racked up one win (2023), one top-five and one top-10 finish as well as led 250 laps.
Grant Enfinger: Coming off a runner-up finish last weekend, the veteran behind the wheel of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet is looking to continue that momentum. The Fairhope, Alabama native has made two starts at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park recording one win (2022), one top five and one top-10. Last year, the 39-year-old finished 12th.
Christian Eckes: The Middletown, New York native has made two starts Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park posting one top-five and one top-10 finish as well as led three laps. Last year, Eckes finished seventh at the Indianapolis short track.
Corey Heim: Undergoing his best season yet with a total of five wins, the driver behind the wheel of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota is on the hunt to become the first driver to win multiple Regular Season Championships in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Marietta, Georgia native has posted one top five and two top 10s in just two starts at the 0.686-mile track as well as led 18 laps. The 22-year-old finished eighth last year.
William Sawalich: The part-time driver of the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota will be on double duty this weekend kicking off his activities in the ARCA Menards Series. Although it will be a challenge, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native hopes the extra track time will give him some sort of advantage Friday night. The 17-year-old has only made one CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park where he finished sixth (2023). In the ARCA Menards Series race last year, Sawalich finished fourth at the famed oval.
Luke Fenhaus: The youngest winner of the Slinger Nationals and current ARCA Menards Series driver will make his third start in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series behind the wheel of the No. 66 ThorSport Racing Toyota. As a phenomenal short-track racer, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is right in Fenhaus’ wheelhouse. Although the Wausau, Wisconsin native has never made a CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, he has made one start in the ARCA Menard Series where he finished second. The 20-year-old’s previous short-track experience makes him one to keep an on eye on this weekend.
Regular Season Title Watch: Eckes continues to lead point standings with two to go
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes continues his breakout year and currently holds the driver points lead in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with two races left in the regular season.
The 23-year-old is currently 32 points up on Corey Heim in second as the series heads to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the TSport 200 on Friday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
If Eckes can hold on and win the Regular Season Championship, he will get an additional 15 Playoff points to take with him into the postseason and will become the eighth different driver to win the regular season title: joining Christopher Bell (2017), Johnny Sauter (2018), Grant Enfinger (2019), Austin Hill (2020), John H. Nemechek (2021), Zane Smith (2022) and Corey Heim (2023).
The Middletown, New York native has accumulated three wins, eighth top-five, and 13 top-10 finishes this season. He also leads the series in laps led this season with 625.
Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched this weekend. Eckes is currently 32 points up on Corey Heim in second and 113 points on Nick Sanchez in third.
Regular Season Championship Clinch Scenarios:
Eckes (or whoever’s first in points) needs to be up by the corresponding number after the race to clinch:
Indianapolis – 60 or 61 points, depending on tie-break
Richmond – 0 or 1 point, depending on tie-break
CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs picture begins to take shape with two to go
With only two races in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular season remaining, time is literally running out and the race is getting tight to secure the final six Playoff spots.
Four drivers have earned their spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs by virtue of their wins – Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez and Rajah Caruth – leaving six spots in the 10-driver Playoff field still available.
Following Pocono Raceway, Tanner Gray is ranked 11th in the Playoff outlook, just one point back from Daniel Dye in the 10th and final postseason transfer spot on points.
Just behind Gray is Stewart Friesen in 12th, four points back from the postseason cutoff, and three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton is 13th, -47 points back from Dye. Since the introduction of the Playoffs in the series in 2016, Matt Crafton has not missed the Playoffs, and he leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in postseason appearances with eight consecutive (2016-2023). The 48-year-old has finished ninth at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in last two appearances at the track (2022-23).
CRAFTSMAN Truck Clinch Scenarios for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
The time to clinch is near, and with that in mind let’s take look at the clinch scenarios the drivers and teams are facing heading into this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Already Clinched
The following four drivers have clinched a spot in the 10-driver postseason field: Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nicholas Sanchez, Rajah Caruth.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the sixth winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger, Taylor Gray or Ben Rhodes.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
- Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
- Taylor Gray: Could only clinch with help
- Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Daniel Dye or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the fifth winless driver in the standings.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch with 3 points
- Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
- Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
- Taylor Gray: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger, Taylor Gray, Ben Rhodes, Daniel Dye, Tanner Gray, Stewart Friesen, Matt Crafton, Chase Purdy, Jake Garcia, Dean Thompson, Layne Riggs, Bayley Currey, Ty Dillon, Bret Holmes, Matt Mills, Timmy Hill, Mason Massey, Lawless Alan, Spencer Boyd
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Richard Petty named Grand Marshal for the Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway – Richmond Raceway announced this week that American icon, NASCAR Hall of Famer, Seven-Time Cup Series Champion and the winningest driver in NASCAR history “The King” Richard Petty will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Clean Harbors 250 on Saturday, Aug. 10. Amid the Petty Family’s 75th year in NASCAR, Petty will say the most famous words in motorsports prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Finale.
“An event as significant as this deserves to have one of the most prominent figures in sports history give the command to start engines,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran. “We’re thrilled and honored to have “The King” Richard Petty serve as the Grand Marshal for the Clean Harbors 250 in what should be an electrifying race under the lights.”
As the most successful driver the sport has ever seen, Petty’s legendary 35-year career sets the standard for greatness across all motorsports. The Level Cross, N.C. native has the most NASCAR Cup Series wins (200), most poles (123), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10), most starts (1,185), and tied for the most championships with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson (seven).
Petty’s astounding accomplishments led him to be inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and named as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. Additionally, he has been elected to the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and serves as Chairman of the North Carolina Motorsports Association.
The Petty legacy will be well-represented on-track in Saturday’s Clean Harbors 250, with Richard Petty’s grandson Thad Moffitt driving the No. 46 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet.
Ross Chastain returns to lineup for final CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race – Cup Series regular Ross Chastain will make his fifth and final slated CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of 2024 behind the wheel of the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.
The 32-year-old has made 111 starts in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, posting five wins, four poles, 24 top-five finishes and 50 top 10 finishes in his career. Since his series debut in 2011, Chastain has led 945 laps.
The Alva, Florida native won earlier this season at Darlington and hopes to get to Victory Lane at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Chastain has only made one previous start at the 0.686-mile oval where he finished 10th.
