Updated

Updated · IndyStar · Jul 26

NASCAR Drivers Ready 400-Mile Brickyard Race at Indianapolis as Carson Hocevar Holds Pole

Updated

Updated · IndyStar · Jul 26

NASCAR Drivers Ready 400-Mile Brickyard Race at Indianapolis as Carson Hocevar Holds Pole

Q: With a massive $1 million prize on the line, who will risk it all to conquer the Brickyard 400?

Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland are the two drivers with the $1 million directly on the line at the Brickyard 400, because Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the final round of NASCAR’s five-race In-Season Challenge. Blaney enters as the favorite. The 2023 Cup champion has been on a strong run, with 11 straight finishes of 11th or better, two wins this season, and a better recent record on Indianapolis’ 2.5-mile oval. He also showed more speed than Gilliland in practice and qualified 13th. If he finishes ahead of Gilliland, he takes the bonus. Gilliland is the underdog, but he is very much alive. The Front Row Motorsports driver has advanced through the challenge by surviving each round, and he has quietly been strong at Indy, finishing sixth in both of his Brickyard 400 starts on the oval. He starts 36th, which makes the task harder, but over 400 miles strategy, cautions and attrition can still change the outcome. Beyond the bonus battle, the race win itself remains open. Pole-sitter Carson Hocevar starts up front, Christopher Bell was fastest in practice, and contenders such as Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe all have realistic shots at winning one of NASCAR’s crown-jewel events. So the clearest answer is Blaney and Gilliland will risk it all for the $1 million, while a deeper field of Cup stars chases the Brickyard 400 trophy itself.

Q: Which driver will survive the grueling 160 laps to dethrone defending champion Bubba Wallace at the legendary oval?

Denny Hamlin looks like the safest pick to dethrone Bubba Wallace, with Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell the strongest challengers. The clearest case is Hamlin’s combination of form, pace and market confidence. He entered Indianapolis as the betting favorite at around +350, sits near the top of the standings, and was part of Toyota’s strong showing in practice, where the manufacturer swept the top five. Hamlin was fifth in that session and has repeatedly run well at Indy even without a win, including a third-place finish last year. On a flat, strategy-heavy oval, that consistency matters. Bell has the best pure practice signal after leading Friday at 183.512 mph, and he starts 23rd, which means he will need to manage traffic but has top-end speed. Larson starts 10th and already owns a recent Brickyard win on the oval, making him a major threat if Hendrick Motorsports nails pit strategy. Blaney starts 13th, has top-10s in the last two Brickyards, and arrives on a strong streak while also racing for the $1 million In-Season Challenge prize. If the race turns into a clean, tactical 400-miler, Hamlin may have the edge. If track position and late restarts define it, Larson and Blaney become especially dangerous. Bell may have the fastest car in raw speed. Wallace, starting 29th, faces a much tougher path to repeat, though his 2025 win proves he cannot be dismissed entirely.

3 articles · Updated · IndyStar · Jul 26

Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted final Brickyard 400 preparations Sunday as NASCAR Cup Series teams rolled cars to pit lane, fueled up and moved toward the starting grid.
Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 sat on pole position ahead of the race, while drivers including Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell completed pre-race routines.
Fans lined pit road, filled grandstands and walked through the garages as drivers signed autographs and waved during parade-lap appearances.
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin also appeared at the track and was set to serve as honorary pace car driver for the Indianapolis event.