NASCAR Cup Series Predictions at Indianapolis
Tyler Reddick celebrating his win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022.
NASCAR Cup Series action returns to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at 2:30 PM EST on NBC.
Tyler Reddick won last year’s chaotic race, leading 38 laps as the field was scrambled at the end of the day, with Ross Chastain’s shortcut into Turn 1 highlighting the finish.
Martin Truex Jr enters as the favorite, after letting one slip away from him last week at Michigan. With finishes of 15th and 21st on the Indy Road Course, it comes as a surprise that he’s the favorite heading into Sunday. However, Truex won at Sonoma earlier this year and has averaged a finish of 9th and moved into the lead for the regular season championship. He will be looking to kiss the bricks on Sunday.
Shane Van Gisbergen took the NASCAR World and motorsports community by storm after winning the Chicago Street Course race in his first NASCAR Cup start. He returns in the Project 91 entry from Trackhouse Racing looking to make it two wins in two Cup starts. With talks of Van Gisbergen signing a deal with Trackhouse for 2024, it’s very likely we will see him in the Cup Series full time next year. He’ll look to kiss the yard of bricks this Sunday.
Tyler Reddick is desperately in need of some good momentum. In his last 10 races, he’s gathered only two Top 5’s and three Top 10’s, with an average finish of 21st. Good news for him is that the Cup Series is heading to road courses this Sunday at Indy and next week at Watkins Glen. Since 2022, Reddick has three wins on road courses, including his only 2023 win at COTA. He’s gathered four Top 5’s, six Top 10’s, and an average finish of 11th. He’ll look to kiss the bricks once again this weekend.
AJ Allmendinger is another driver who’s in need of some good momentum as he enters 19th in points, 24 points outside of the Top 16. He won on this track in 2021 and finished 7th in last year’s race, proving a solid track record for Kaulig Racing. Allmendinger’s last six starts on road courses have resulted in two Top 5’s and five Top 10’s, with an average finish of 10th. He’ll look forward to racing road courses on back-to-back weeks.
Brodie Kostecki will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the #33 entry from Richard Childress Racing. Kostecki is the current points leader in the Repco Supercars Championship, making his way to the United States after Shane Van Gisbergen’s win in Chicago. Coming from a similar background to Van GIsbergen, Kostecki will be looking to make headlines himself by winning at the Indy Road Course.
Chris Buescher is the hottest driver in NASCAR, having won back-to-back races at Richmond and Michigan. The momentum will continue into Indy where road. courses have been a strength for the #17 RFK Mustang. Buescher has an average finish of 6th on road courses, including eight straight Top 10’s on road courses and street courses. He has a strong chance to make it three straight wins at the Brickyard.
Michael McDowell enters only three points outside the Top 16 in points, heading onto one of his strong suits in road course racing. Since 2022 he’s gathered one Top 5 and five Top 10’s on road courses, with an average finish of 11th. He will be one driver to keep an eye on, as well as Kamui Kobayashi. Making his NASCAR Cup debut in the #67 for 23XI Racing, Kobayashi carries experience racing in Formula 1, a winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a two time FIA World Endurance Champion. His teammate for the weekend, Tyler Reddick, won this race last year. Kobayashi will be looking to win in his first Cup start on Sunday.