This week the Cup Series travels to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400! 

It’s a three day event for the Cup Series with practice on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and racing on Sunday.

There are only five more races remaining in the regular season before the playoffs begin.

And it’s the final week of the In-Season Challenge with Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland battling it out for the $1 million prize.

Thirty-nine teams brought cars to Indianapolis for 40 starting spots.  Daniel Dye, Corey Heim, and Casey Mears are all joining the lineup this week.

The drivers get a full 50 minute practice session  and have three sets of tires for practice.

Bubba Wallace and Shane van Gisbergen are in the garage for repairs after both drivers have gotten into the wall.

Austin Cindric is in the garage reporting that his engine just shut off after hitting a bump.  The crew has decided to replace all of the electrical elements in the car.

Ryan Preece is in the garage with a flat tire; Preece said that he did not know what caused the flat tire, but adds he was comfortable in the car.

Austin Cindric returns to the garage after another power failure.  This time he said the engine itself never lost power but the dashboard was blank.

While injuries have plagued Alex Bowman; he stated that the injury bug was not his primary reason for retiring at the end of next year while still in his mid 30’s.  Bowman said that there are other things he wants to do and he cannot do that and be a full time race car driver.

Austin Dillon reports a very loose car.

Casey Mears has not been in a Cup Series car for over five years but noticed that he needed just five races to reach 500 starts…so he decided to run a few and Indianapolis is one of them.  The Brickyard will be start number 497.

Connor Zilisch had a birthday this week and is no longer a teenager; he is now 20 years old.

Chirstopher Bell tops the leaderboard in single lap times with a time of 48.043 seconds.  Kyle Larson topped the leaderboard in multiple lap times.

The first car on the track to make a qualifying run is Casey Mears who posted a time of 50.133 seconds around the 2.5 mile track.

Corey Heim is the first driver to break the 50 second mark with a time of 48.529 seconds for a new track record.  This is Heim’s first time on the iconic track.

Shane van Gisbergen said that he still has a lot to learn but he is having a lot of fun.

When the green flag drops on the Brickyard 400, Ryan Blaney will make career start number 400.

With a time of 48.232 seconds Carson Hocevar puts his number 77 car on the pole with teammate Daniel Suarez alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Brickyard 400:
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Suarez
Tyler Reddick
Ty Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Michael McDowell
Corey Heim
Alex Bowman
AJ Allmendinger
Kyle Larson
Chase Briscoe
Cole Custer
Ryan Blaney
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski
John Hunter Nemechek
Riley Herbst
Joey Logano
Austin Dillon
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Shane van Gisbergen
Josh Berry
Chase Elliott
Ty Dillon
Bubba Wallace
Todd Gilliland
Zane Smith
Connor Zilisch
Austin Hill
Noah Gragson
Austin Cindric
Cody Ware
Casey Mears
Daniel Dye

Fifteen time series champion and eleven time Indianapolis winner car owner Rick Hendrick announced that Jimmie Johnson will get to run his final race at Daytona next year driving the number 48 car.

Jimmie Johnson becomes the first race car driver to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  He is one of just seven sports figures to have a star on the Walk of Fame.

There are only three drivers in the field who have won a race at Indianapolis – Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, and Bubba Wallace.

Stages one and two are 50 laps each with stage three lasting 60 laps for a total of 160 laps around the 2.5 mile track.  The drivers can run 40 to 42 laps on a single load of fuel.

On a hot Sunday afternoon, Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Daniel Suarez alongside for the 33rd Cup Series race at Indianapolis.  The Hurricane Carson Hocevar gets out in front for the lead with Daniel Suarez in second.  Drivers quickly get three wide across the track.

Lap two, the top five are Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Corey Heim.

Carson Hocevar has pulled out to a near two second lead on Daniel Suarez.

Known as The Hurricane – Carson Hocevar is driving like a whirlwind; already over two seconds out in front on the fourth lap of the race.

Lap five, Carson Hocevar has pulled out to a two and a half second lead on Daniel Suarez; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Ty Gibbs has a slight encounter with the wall.

Lap seven, Hurricane Hocevar now has a lead of over two and a half seconds on Daniel Suraez; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 12, Carsson Hocevar continues to hold a two and a half second lead on Daniel Suarez; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 16, The drivers have gotten single file with Carson Hocevar over two and a half seconds out in front of Daniel Suarez with Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five.

Lap 20, Carson Hocevar has led every lap so far by over two seconds.

Austin Hill makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a possible flat tire.  He becomes the first driver one lap down.

Lap 23, Chase Elliott comes down pit road for service.

Carson Hocevar’s lead is now down to under a second and a half on Daniel Suarez.

Lap 25, more drivers come down pit road for service.

Lap 26, Carson Hocevar’s lead is now down to under a second on Daniel Suarez; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Ty Dillon was charged with a pit road blend line violation and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

As more drivers come down pit road, Carson Hocevar’s lead is now down to just over half a second on Daniel Suarez.

Lap 30, Ty Gibbs is the first of the top five drivers to come down pit road for service.

Lap 32, leader Carson Hocevar comes down pit road for service; Daniel Suarez is the new leader with Denny Hamlin in second.

Lap 34, Daniel Suarez makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin.

Lap 36, there are 29 cars on the lead lap with Denny Hamlin leading the race.

Lap 40, green flag pit stops continue including leader Denny Hamlin.  Tyler Reddick is the new leader.

Lap 42, leader Tyler Reddick makes his green flag pit stop; Corey Heim is the new leader.

Once all of the drivers make their pit stops, Kyle Larson will be the new leader with Carson Hocevar in third.

Lap 45, Kyle Larson brings out the first caution flag of the race when he spins out with a blown tire and backs into the wall.  He exits the car unassisted.

Ty Gibbs is the new leader with Carson Hocevar in second.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service with just four laps remaining in stage one.

Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the one lap shootout to end stage one with Carson Hocevar alongside.  Gibbs jumps out in front with Corey Heim in second; Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, and William Byron round out the top five.

Ty Gibbs wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ty Gibbs
Corey Heim
Michael McDowell
Carson Hocevar
William Byron
Denny Hamlin
Daniel Suarez
Chase Briscoe
Chris Buescher
Tyler Reddick

Ty Dillon is the “lucky dog” to put 35 cars on the lead lap.

Just a few drivers come down pit road for service.

Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Corey Heim alongside on lap 56.  Gibbs gets out in front for the lead with Michael McDowell in second.  Drivers are spreading out through the track and getting wild.

Lap 57, the top five are Ty Gibbs, Michael McDowell, Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin.

Lap 58, defending champion Bubba Wallace has entered the top 20.

Lap 58, Ty Gibbs has pulled out to a near two second lead on Michael McDowell; Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 60, ty Gibbs is now over two seconds out in front of Michael McDowell.

Lap 60 for Chase Elliott who gets into the wall after some contact from Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Elliott reports that the car “is killed” and has a flat tire.

Lap 62, Ty Gibbs has a two and a half second lead on Michael McDowell; Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Chase Elliott takes his number nine car to the garage.

Lap 67, Ty Gibbs has a three second lead on Michael McDowell.  His crew told him to go hard and not worry about fuel.

Lap 70, Ty Gibbs has a three second lead on Michael McDowell; Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 74, ty Gibbs holds a three second lead on Michael McDowell; Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.  Daniel Suarez is the first driver to make a green flag pit stop.

Michael McDowell gives up second to make his green flag pit stop.

Lap 75, leader Ty Gibbs comes down pit road for service.  Corey Heim is the new leader.

Lap 78, Corey Heim has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds on Carson Hocevar; Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescvher, and Tyler Reddick rounds out the top five.

Lap 82, Carson Hocevar and Chris Buescher comes down pit road for service.  Corey Heim has a three second lead on Denny Hamlin.

Lap 84, Denny Hamlin makes his pit stop.

Lap 85, on the leader’s bumper, Carson Hocevar is working to pass Corey Heim to get back on the lead lap.  Denny Hamlin comes off of pit road in front of the two drivers.

Lap 89, more drivers make their green flag pit stops.

Just 10 laps remain in stage two, more drivers make their pit stops, but leader Corey Heim is still on the track.

Lap 91, leader Corey Heim finally comes down pit road for his stop and gets a one finger salute from Carson Hocevar.

John Hunter Nemechek is the new leader.

John Hunter Nemechek makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Chase Briscoe.

Chase Briscoe comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Ryan Preece.

The caution flag comes out for Daniel Dye stopped on the track after spinning out and getting into the wall with a flat tire with just four laps remaining in stage two.

Ross Chastain is the leader.

Stage two ends under caution with Ross Chastain winning the stage.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ross Chastain
Todd Gilliland
Ty Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Corey Heim
Carson Hocevar
Ryan Preece
Michael McDowell
Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez

Noah Gragson is the “lucky dog” for 34 cars on the lead lap.

Ross Chastain and Todd Gilliland come down pit road for service.  Ty Gibbs is the new leader.

Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Corey Heim alongside on lap 105.  Gibbs gets out in front for the lead with Denny Hamlin and Corey Heim in a battle for second.

The top five are Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Preece.

Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Lap 110, ty Gibbs has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 115 for debris on the track.

There are 34 cars on the lead lap and a narrow pit road.  On the edge of their window to make it to the end of the race, the field comes down pit road for service Corey Heim edges out Denny Hamlin to win the race off of pit road.  Bubba Wallace makes contact with one of his crew members.  He also had to back up to get into his pit box.

Some of the drivers took only two tires.

Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag restart with 42 laps remaining in the race.  Denny Hamlin gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Denny Hamlin, corey Heim, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and chase Briscoe.

Ryan Blaney gets into the wall to bring out the caution flag after contact from John Hunter Nemechek.  Both cars drive away from the wreck.  Riley Herbst and AJ Allmendinger make contact and spin out.  Ross Chastain, Austin Hill, Zane Smith, Casey Mears, and Connor Zilisch were also involved in the pile up.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with Corey Heim alongside.  There are 34 laps remaining in the race.  Joey Logano pushes Corey Heim to the lead!

Drivers are spread out three and four wide across the track.  Joey Logano passes Denny Hamlin.

With 33 laps to go; the top five are Corey Heim, Christoher Bell, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin.

Thirty to go; Corey Heim has a lead of over half a second on Christopher Bell; Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Connor Zilisch and Casey Mears are out of the race.

Riley Herbst is out of the race.

With 27 laps to go, Christopher Bell is slowly closing the gap on leader Corey Heim; Bell is less than half a second back.

The top five are Corey Heim, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin.

In-Challenge finalists Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland are just three spots apart and fighting hard for the money.

Corey Heim is reporting a loose condition in his car.

With 23 laps to go, Christopher Bell has pulled withing a third of a second of leader Corey Heim; Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Joey Logano is running the fastest laps on the track.

Twenty to go!  Corey Heim has a third of a second lead on Christopher Bell; Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

With 17 laps to go, Joey Logano is running the fastest laps on the track and slowly reining in leader Corey Heim and Christopher Bell.

With 16 to go, Joey Logano has closed to within a second of leader Corey Heim with Christopher Bell between them.

Fourteen laps to go, fifth place driver Denny Hamlin is over five and a half seconds back of leader Corey Heim.

Corey Heim leads the race with Christopher Bell a  third of a second back and Joey Logano less than a second behind in third; Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Just 10 laps remain in the race; Corey Heim now has a half second lead on Christopher Bell with Joey Logano in third a second back; Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Just one car separates Todd Gilliland and Ryan Blaney in the battle for the million dollar In-Series Challenge.

Six laps remain in the race, Corey Heim holds on to the lead with Christopher Bell less than half a second back.

Four to go, Corey Heim holds on to the lead with just 10 miles to go.

Just two laps remain, Corey Heim holds off Christopher Bell.

Corey Heim takes the white flag!

Corey Heim wins the race on a track he has never seen before!

Heim called those last laps a real workout.  The crew climbs the fence

Todd Gilliland gets the million dollar prize!

This is Heim’s second win in a part time run – his second career win in 15 races; a feat not done since AJ Foyt in 1965!

Heim’s win makes it seven wins in the 2026 season for 23XI Racing.

The unofficial results of the Brickyard 400:
Corey Heim
Christopher Bell
Joey Logano
Chase Briscoe
Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski
Josh Berry
Ryan Preece
Carson Hocevar
Tyler Reddick
Chris Buescher
Ty Gibbss
Cole Custer
Austin Cindric
Zane Smith
Shane van Gisbergen
Daniel Suarez
Michael McDowell
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
William Byron
Noah Gragson
Ross Chastain
Todd Gilliland
AJ Allmendinger
Ryan Blaney
Erik Jones
Bubba Wallace
Austin Dillon
Ty Dillon
Cody Ware
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Hill
Connor Zilisch
Casey Mears
Riley Herbst
Chase Elliott
Daniel Dye
Kyle Larson