Who Ranks Best at the Brickyard? NASCAR Drivers with Top Average Finishes at Indianapolis

The NASCAR Cup Series heads from Dover to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where drivers face the challenge of a 2.5-mile oval with long straights and four flat corners. Known globally as “The Brickyard,” this venue carries a legacy unlike any other—IndyCar, NASCAR, and even Formula One have battled across its legendary yard of bricks.

With Denny Hamlin fresh off a victory at Dover and momentum building into the next round, fans and analysts are turning their eyes toward the Brickyard. But who consistently performs best at this track? Let’s take a look at five NASCAR Cup Series drivers with the best average finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (minimum two starts), factoring in both experience and recent form.

Key Highlights

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted 30+ Cup races since 1994

• Track is a 2.5-mile oval with flat turns, known for long green-flag runs and fuel strategy

• Rankings include current full-time drivers with at least two Cup starts at Indy

• The 2024 Brickyard 400 was won by Kyle Larson after two overtimes

• Momentum and prior form could prove key in 2025’s return to the oval

#5 – Daniel Suárez: 12.8 Average Finish

Daniel Suárez has quietly built a strong record at Indianapolis, boasting an average finish of 12.8. While he has yet to score a podium at the Brickyard, Suárez has finished inside the top 10 twice and cracked the top 20 five times.

More impressively, he’s done so despite an average starting position of 23.4, proving he knows how to move forward in clean-air-sensitive conditions. Suárez, who currently sits 29th in the Cup standings with 341 points, could use a strong result at Indy to turn his season around.

#4 – Kyle Busch: 12.8 Average Finish

Tied with Suárez but holding the edge on volume and results is Kyle Busch, with a 12.8 average finish over 17 starts at the Indianapolis oval. His résumé includes two wins, five top-five finishes, and 329 laps led—the most of anyone on this list.

Busch has traditionally thrived on rhythm-style ovals like Indy, where tire conservation and strategic pit cycles reward veterans. After an 11th-place run at Dover, the two-time Cup champion currently ranks 15th in points. Busch may not be the dominant force he once was, but Indianapolis has always been a track where he’s in the conversation.

#3 – Joey Logano: 12.6 Average Finish

Next on the list is Joey Logano, whose 12.6 average finish comes across 13 starts. Logano has four top-five results and eight top-10s, but he’s also had his share of heartbreak. A DNF in the 2024 Brickyard 400 knocked him out of contention late, highlighting the thin margin between success and frustration on this flat, unforgiving track.

Currently sitting 11th in points with 524 points, the Team Penske veteran has shown he can adapt to various track types. He’ll be eager to rebound and erase last year’s bad memory with a statement drive in 2025.

#2 – Christopher Bell: 8.0 Average Finish

In limited starts, Christopher Bell has shown strong potential at Indianapolis. With just two races at the Brickyard oval, Bell carries an 8.0 average finish and a fourth-place result in 2024’s Brickyard 400 under his belt.

While the sample size is small, the speed is undeniable. Bell excels at flat tracks and rhythm-based ovals, where his precise inputs and calculated aggression pay off. Following an 18th-place run at Dover, he enters Indy sixth in the standings and well within playoff territory.

#1 – Tyler Reddick: 5.0 Average Finish

No one has been more consistent at the Indianapolis oval than Tyler Reddick, whose 5.0 average finish leads the Cup Series among active drivers with multiple starts. Reddick has recorded one top-five and two top-10 finishes at the Brickyard, with an average starting spot of 7th—suggesting both speed and execution.

He came heartbreakingly close to winning the 2024 Brickyard 400, losing out to Kyle Larson during the second overtime after leading late. Still, that performance reinforced his status as a driver to watch at Indy. Reddick finished 12th at Dover and currently sits fifth in the standings heading into this year’s race.

A Look Back: 2024 Brickyard 400 Recap

The 2024 Brickyard 400 was an instant classic, defined by late-race chaos and high-stakes gambles. Held on July 21, 2024, the event went 167 laps due to two overtimes, stretching beyond its scheduled 160-lap distance.

Kyle Larson secured the win—his first at the Brickyard and fourth overall in 2024—after outdueling Tyler Reddick in the final restart. Brad Keselowski had appeared set for victory before running out of fuel in the first overtime, giving way to Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet.

The race featured 18 lead changes among 13 drivers, with 10 cautions for 32 laps. Stage wins went to Denny Hamlin (Stage 1) and Bubba Wallace (Stage 2), both of whom finished inside the top 10. The final caution came out during the last lap, freezing the field and sealing Larson’s win under yellow.

Top finishers included:

• Kyle Larson (1st)

• Tyler Reddick (2nd)

• Ryan Blaney (3rd)

• Christopher Bell (4th)

• Bubba Wallace (5th)

Heading into 2025, many of these names are still in form—making the upcoming race one of the most anticipated events of the summer.

News in Brief: NASCAR Drivers With Best Average Finish at Indianapolis