A big weekend is coming for NASCAR in Indiana, and something unexpected may change how it all plays out. The full schedule includes races for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, but the forecast could shake things up. With three busy days ahead at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the timing could not be more important. Now, attention turns to what might happen before the green flag ever waves.
Friday and Saturday: Wet Weather Could Disrupt Early Action
The forecast for Friday and Saturday calls for a 55% chance of rain, putting a potential damper on key on-track sessions across all series. Friday’s packed schedule includes Cup, Xfinity, ARCA, and Truck Series practice and qualifying, plus two races — the ARCA Menards Series LiUNA! 150 and the Truck Series’ TSport 200. With rain in play, NASCAR officials may need to adjust the timeline, shorten practice sessions, or cancel qualifying depending on track conditions.
Saturday doesn’t offer much more relief, as intermittent showers could impact Xfinity and Cup qualifying ahead of the Pennzoil 250. If qualifying is washed out, starting lineups would revert to the NASCAR rulebook’s metrics, possibly scrambling the expected running order.
Sunday Forecast: Brighter Outlook for the Brickyard 400
While the first two days bring considerable uncertainty, Sunday appears far more favorable. Rain chances drop significantly to just 20%, giving drivers and teams a clearer window to complete the Brickyard 400. With temperatures still in the 80s°F, hot and slick conditions may challenge grip levels — but at least rain delays seem less likely.
This will be the second straight year that the Cup Series runs the Brickyard on the oval configuration, and given the significance of the race and the tight playoff picture, a dry race day would be a welcome reprieve. Should precipitation hold off, teams can rely on setup notes collected earlier in the weekend, provided Friday’s sessions aren’t fully washed out.
Full On-Track Schedule: NASCAR in Indianapolis
Here’s how the weekend is currently scheduled across all three series:
Friday, July 25, 2025 (All Times ET)
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12:05 p.m. – NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice
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1:00 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series Practice
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1:05 p.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Practice
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2:00 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series Qualifying
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3:05 p.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice
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4:10 p.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying
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5:30 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series Race: LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy
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8:00 p.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race: TSport 200 (200 laps at IRP)
Saturday, July 26, 2025
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1:00 p.m. – NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying
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2:35 p.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
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4:30 p.m. – NASCAR Xfinity Series Race: Pennzoil 250 (100 laps at IMS)
Sunday, July 27, 2025
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2:00 p.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Race: Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG (IMS Oval)
News in Brief: Indianapolis 2025 NASCAR Weekend Weather Forecast
While Friday and Saturday carry significant rain risk, Sunday’s improved forecast gives hope for a smooth Cup race. Fans planning to attend should prepare for unpredictable skies, but the outlook brightens as the weekend progresses. Teams may face compressed track time if delays hit early events, possibly forcing setup changes on limited data. Historically, weather has played a role at Indy, and 2025 could be no different.
ALSO READ: Who Ranks Best at the Brickyard? NASCAR Drivers with Top Average Finishes at Indianapolis
