The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series returns to one of its most iconic venues this weekend: Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This race marks Round 5 of the In-Season Challenge and the 22nd points-paying event of the season. With 39 drivers set to compete in Sunday’s Brickyard 400, the qualifying order has been finalized following NASCAR’s established metric formula. Fans will witness a one-lap, single-round qualifying session on Saturday afternoon as the field battles for starting position on this historic 2.5-mile oval.
Key Highlights
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The Brickyard 400 is the fifth race in the 2025 In-Season Challenge and the 22nd Cup event this season.
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Indianapolis will also host Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series races over the weekend.
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The 160-lap race begins Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m. ET and airs on TNT Sports, truTV, HBO Max, and SiriusXM.
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Qualifying will take place Saturday, July 26 at 2:35 p.m. ET with a one-lap format across two groups.
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Jesse Love and Austin Dillon will lead off qualifying for Groups A and B respectively.
A Weekend Full of Tradition and Tension
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long held a revered place in the NASCAR schedule. First hosting the Brickyard 400 in 1994, this 2.5-mile oval in Speedway, Indiana, features 9.2-degree banked corners and flat straights that challenge even the most seasoned drivers. Now in its 32nd edition, the Brickyard continues to be a venue where history is written in tire marks and split-second decisions.
In 2025, the Brickyard returns as a standalone Cup event, no longer sharing the calendar with a road course layout. The high-speed, precision-heavy demands of the oval promise to put driver skill and team execution on full display.
Aside from the Cup Series, both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series will compete on the same weekend, amplifying the excitement and spectacle for race fans. Practice opens Friday, July 25 at 1:05 p.m. ET, followed by Saturday’s high-stakes qualifying that will finalize the starting grid.
The Groups: Based on Metric Formula
The 2025 qualifying procedure follows a familiar formula: one lap, one round. All 39 drivers will have their shot at clocking the fastest time during Saturday’s session, which splits the field into two groups based on a combined metric score. That score is calculated using 70% from the previous race finish by owner and 30% from current owner points standings.
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love will lead Group A, while teammate Austin Dillon kicks off Group B. Below is a full breakdown of both qualifying groups:
Group A – Qualifying Order
| S.No | Car No. | Driver |
| 1 | 62 | Jesse Love |
| 2 | 66 | Josh Bilicki |
| 3 | 78 | Katherine Legge |
| 4 | 51 | Cody Ware |
| 5 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 6 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 7 | 16 |
A.J. Allmendinger
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| 8 | 41 | Cole Custer |
| 9 | 88 |
Shane van Gisbergen
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| 10 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 11 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 12 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
| 13 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 14 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 15 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 16 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 17 | 47 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
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| 18 | 38 | Zane Smith |
| 19 | 24 | William Byron |
| 20 | 7 | Justin Haley |
| 21 | 42 |
John Hunter Nemechek
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Group B – Qualifying Order
| S.No | Car No. | Driver |
| 1 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 2 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 3 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 4 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 5 | 71 |
Michael McDowell
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| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 7 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 8 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 9 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 11 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 12 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 13 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 14 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 15 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 16 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 17 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 18 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
Each driver has just one chance to make their mark. With no knockout rounds or multiple laps to compensate for errors, Saturday’s session will come down to flawless execution. That includes how quickly teams get through tech, how well the car is trimmed out for a single lap, and whether drivers can keep composure in a moment that could define their entire weekend.
Setting Up for Sunday’s Brickyard Drama
The importance of qualifying cannot be overstated at a track like Indy. Passing opportunities are limited due to the flat corners and long straightaways, making clean air and track position vital. Even the slightest misstep in Saturday’s session could bury a contender deep in the field for Sunday’s 160-lap race.
Expect top-tier teams like Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske to push hard early in the qualifying order. Meanwhile, young drivers such as Jesse Love and Shane van Gisbergen will look to use the spotlight to elevate their names heading into the playoff push.
The qualifying metric might set the stage, but Saturday’s runs will dictate who leads the field into Turn 1 on race day—and who will be clawing their way forward from the back.
News in Brief: Qualifying Order Set for 2025 Brickyard 400
The 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway marks Round 5 of the In-Season Challenge and features a full 39-car field. Saturday’s single-lap qualifying session begins at 2:35 p.m. ET and will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s 160-lap race. Jesse Love leads off Group A, while Austin Dillon heads Group B. The session follows NASCAR’s metric-based grouping system. Fans can catch all the weekend action across TNT Sports, truTV, HBO Max, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
ALSO READ: How to Watch the 2025 Brickyard 400: Start Times, and TV Channels
