The Cup Series Brickyard 400 lineup is finalized, as the famed NASCAR event returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for 2025 after a stint on the road course. Scheduled as the 22nd race of the regular season, this iconic event will showcase top drivers vying for positions with only four more races left before the playoffs begin.
Format Returns to the Historic Speedway
After several years as a road course event, the Brickyard 400 resumed its traditional role at the four-turn, 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in 2024 and continues in 2025. While labeled a superspeedway, the track’s characteristics mean it will not employ the drafting strategies common at venues like Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, or Atlanta Motor Speedway. Instead, NASCAR will use its standard intermediate qualifying format for the race weekend, ensuring each of the 39 drivers completes a single-lap qualifying run to determine Sunday’s starting grid for the 160-lap race.
Updated Qualifying Procedures Impact Lineup
For this season, each competitor will make one attempt in qualifying, with results from both groups merged to set the final order. Distinctive procedures, such as row-by-row lane designations and second-round pole shootouts, have been discontinued. The positions are now determined by a revised two-variable metric, which replaced the earlier and more complex four-variable formula in use from 2020 to 2024.
Drivers Pursue Playoff Spots and Season Goals
Although the Brickyard 400 carries the reputation of being a crown jewel race, many drivers and teams are treating it like any other regular-season event in the context of the larger NASCAR Cup Series. At this point in the season, drivers aim to secure stronger playoff standings or clinch a valuable win as the postseason nears. With just four races left following the Brickyard, every point gained or lost this weekend could prove critical for teams like Kaulig Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.
Final Round of the In-Season Challenge Brings Extra Drama
This year’s race at Indianapolis will also conclude NASCAR’s inaugural five-round In-Season Challenge, providing additional intrigue. The story centers on Ty Dillon from Kaulig Racing and Ty Gibbs representing Joe Gibbs Racing, neither of whom has captured a Cup Series victory. The higher finishing Ty among these two will take the championship in this new mini-tournament, even though both currently sit outside playoff contention.
Where and How to Watch the Race
The official starting roster for the Cup Series Brickyard 400 lineup will be set once all 39 drivers have completed qualifying. Racing fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 27, marking the season’s final TNT broadcast before coverage switches to NBC and USA Network for the rest of the season. NBC’s races will also be available for streaming via FuboTV.
The return of the Brickyard 400 to its historic oval brings both nostalgia and high-stakes action to Indianapolis, with playoff implications and a fresh competitive format ensuring drama for teams, drivers, and fans alike. The upcoming race will help shape the playoff picture and finalize the season challenge, keeping all eyes on the storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend.
