After three weeks off, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is back in action. For the fifteenth time this season, they are racing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Here is everything you need to know for Friday night’s Truck Series action.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200 at Indy Raceway Park Preview

With only three races until the 2025 Truck Series playoffs begin, it is a mad dash for all those below the cut line to solidify their spot in the running for the championship. Last time at IRP in 2024, it was Ty Majeski securing his first of three wins en route to his 2024 series championship. Can Majeski make it three in a row in Indy and make a bid for another championship in ’25? Or will Corey Heim pick up another win in his already dominant season?

Race Preview:

The TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a 200-lap, 137-mile race around the 0.686-mile oval track. Stage cautions will be on laps 60 and 120, and the final lap on lap 200. The prize purse for this race is a total of 782,900 dollars. Teams will have 4 sets of tires for the race, 3 fresh and 1 from qualifying. In case of weather, Goodyear is bringing the wet-weather oval tires, and teams will have 3 sets. The tires being used are the tires previously used at North Wilkesboro.

Read More: Heim-Riggs Incident Paves Way for Chandler Smith Victory at North Wilkesboro

The Track- Indianapolis Raceway Park:

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, opened in 1960, is located just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a multi-motorsport facility with a quarter-mile dragstrip, 0.686-mile oval track, and a road course. The oval features 12 degrees of banking in the four corners, flat compared to other tracks on the schedule. It has hosted 20 races since 1995, with the series taking a break between 2011 and 2022.

Mike Skinner won the first Truck Series race in 1995, driving a Chevrolet. Ron Hornaday Jr. has the most wins at IRP, with 4 wins. Ty Majeski has the most out of active drivers with two. John Hunter Nemechek set the Truck Series lap record in 2022, running a 22.583-second lap.

Read More: NASCAR Truck Series: Championship Contender, Ty Majeski, Hit with L2 Penalty

Truck Series Point Standings:

Here are the point standings following the previous race at Pocono Raceway:

1. Corey Heim: 629
2. Chandler Smith: 505
3. Daniel Hemric: 486
4. Layne Riggs: 483
5. Grant Enfinger: 461
6. Kaden Honeycutt: 456
7. Tyler Ankrum: 441
8. Ty Majeski: 421
9. Jake Garcia: 411
10. Stewart Friesen: 381

Read More: Layne Riggs Takes Advantage of Mistakes to Win Truck Series Race at Pocono

Here is the battle for the final spots in the Truck Series playoffs:

10. Ty Majeski: +38 above

——- Playoff Cut Line——

11. Jake Garcia: -38 below

12. Giovanni Ruggiero: -65 below

13. Ben Rhodes: -68 below

Drivers To Watch:

There are 35 trucks entering this race with 36 spots available. These are the drivers joining the field for this race:

• Brent Crews, #1 Toyota, TRICON Garage
• Jason Alexander, #02 Chevy, Youngs Motorsport
• Corey Day, #7 Chevy, Spire Motorsports
• Jordan Anderson, #20 Chevy, Youngs Motorsports
• Alan Waller, #22 Ford, Reaume Brothers Racing
• Greg Van Alst, #35 Chevy, Greg Van Alst Racing
• Ross Chastain, #44 Chevy, Niece Motorsports
• Luke Fenhaus, #66 Ford, Thorsport

When I think IRP, Ty Majeski is the driver who immiediately comes to mind. Short-track star, he has made this track his playground the last two years. While Thorsport has struggled this year, heading to a track a two-time defending winner, can bring about a new attitude within a race team. I think he is still the favorite Ford for this race.

This season has been all Heim-time. Cannot count out that No. 11 Tundra at all this season. But IRP has not been his been his best track. While he has a great average start, he has a average finish of 10th compared to a 5.3 average start. Be cautious about Heim on Friday, but know he has the truck to win.

For the Chevy’s, don’t count out Cup talent Ross Chastain in the #44 Niece truck. Cup talent can always get it done. As for who can get it done for the series regulars, I look to Grant Enfinger to win it. He won this race in ’22, so he can wheel a truck around this track. While he is win-less so far in 2025, he is solidly in the playoffs, sitting fifth in points. Look for that yellow-and-black No. 9 Chevy on Friday.

How To Watch The Truck Series at IRP:

Here is the schedule for the TSport 200 at Indy Raceway Park:

• Friday, July 25th:
  • Practice:
    • 3:05 PM Eastern
    • Coverage is on Fox Sports 1
  • Qualifying:
    • 4:10 PM Eastern
    • Coverage continues on FS1
  • The TSport 200:
    • 8:00 PM Eastern
    • Coverage is on Fox Sports 1, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Stay connected with Last Word On Motorsports for all the news from NASCAR’s Indianapolis weekend

Main Photo: Justin Casterline, Getty Images

Recording Date: July 19, 2024

CORONADO, Calif. — As Ben Kennedy described the roughly three-mile course where NASCAR Cup Series cars will weave through Naval Base Coronado next year, he mentioned elements that don’t sound typical of a NASCAR course.

There will be a turn by the aircraft carrier. Maybe some by helicopters and F-18s.

Another turn onto the tarmac of the naval base, a tarmac area that could include a chicane or some esses (quick, multiple turns). 

Kennedy, NASCAR’s chief venue officer, doesn’t have the course finalized yet. He’s having drivers work through a variety of elements on iRacing, the racing game simulator that has helped NASCAR work on designs for street courses and other track reconfigurations.

The June 19-21 race weekend next year will be NASCAR’s first on a military base and will coincide with the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy. 

“You have the tarmac, which is as wide as you want to make it,” Kennedy said while standing near the top of the base’s control tower. “And then a lot of the roads and streets that we drove in this morning, they’re five or six lanes wide. So this is going to create for some really good passing zones.”

Kennedy says there will probably be 10 to 15 turns on what will be a relatively flat course, with a slight decline on the frontstretch and a slight incline when they get to the road by the bay.

“I don’t know all the challenges they’re going to face with the location,” said seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who will possibly compete in the event, as he grew up in the San Diego area.

“I’m highly confident we’re going to have an incredible venue, incredible backdrop and great racing.”

Drivers who visited the base on Wednesday didn’t seem too concerned about the design of the track.

“I have heard a rumor that on one of the straightaways, we will be going by a couple aircraft carriers, so that’s going to be hard not to pay attention to going by those on the sea,” said 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney. “I don’t have any expectations. I know it’s going to be a great layout and a great course and just a special place to be able to go run here at such a famous base.

“I’m honestly really honored that they are having us and letting us do what we’re going to do. And I think it’s going to be a heck of a time. I’m incredibly excited about it.”

All three NASCAR national series will compete on the track, with the course finalized sometime this fall.

“I have no clue,” said 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson. “I haven’t seen any drawing or anything of anything yet. But I don’t really care what the course is. I’m just happy that we’re doing this.

“It’s going to be a fun event no matter what. It’s a beautiful part of the country. You’re racing on a Navy base. This is pretty surreal.”

Larson indicated that they won’t know how the track will race until they race.

“A lot of times, the weirder and crazier the tracks are, the better racing we have,” Larson said. “When we think things aren’t going to be right, it creates chaos and whatnot. … We could build an oval right here. We can build a road course. I don’t care.

“I’m just glad that we’re here racing on this base, and it should be fun.”

One thing that probably won’t be possible (and won’t be a goal) is to design a course that could limit the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen, who has won the last three road courses this year.

The three-time Supercars champion has won at Mexico (where he battled stomach issues), the Chicago street course and Sonoma in the last couple of months.

“Food poisoning still won’t get the job done so we’ve just all got to get better,” Blaney quipped. 

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

What’s Happening?

NASCAR 25, the long-awaited NASCAR console game developed by iRacing, will be released on Oct. 14, with a later release on Steam for PC users.

Mike Harmon Racing asked fans for help en route to Indianapolis

NASCAR teams are currently en route to Indianapolis, Indiana. NASCAR events are taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the short track of IRP.

For Mike Harmon Racing, their NASCAR Truck Series team is heading to IRP from the shop in Denver, NC. They ran into major hauler issues along the way.

The fire department was on the scene as the team sat on the side of the highway. They requested help from race fans as they needed a new truck to hook up the hauler.

The team fields the No. 74 truck.

Mike Harmon Racing shared the following URGENT update:

“Does anyone have a dually with a 2 5/16th ball in the bed to help transport to Indy….”

“They are at approx mile marker 70 on Black Mountain near Asheville.”

“There are NO rentals so if someone has a personal truck willing to help trailer to Indy”

They added, “The team members are fine, Mike is fine! We need help ASAP.”

Updates

“We are all set, thank you to everyone who reached out, it’s greatly appreciated.”

The team added, “Thank you to everyone who has commented and messaged us, we are all set!!!”

Indianapolis TV Schedule: July 2025 (NASCAR)

Mike Harmon Racing
Hauler Issues

Links

Mike Harmon Racing | Indianapolis Raceway Park | NASCAR

Daniel Suarez has been linked to Legacy Motor Club since Trackhouse Racing announced his departure after the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Suarez has also been linked to JR Motorsports, but he prefers to stay in the Cup Series. So, what does Legacy Motor Club think about the possibility of acquiring the 33-year-old driver?

Who’s ready to kiss the bricks this weekend?

Every NASCAR driver would love to do just that, as the Cup Series heads to historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400.

NASCAR’s race at the famed track doesn’t have quite the history of the Indianapolis 500, but the stock car series has carved out its own unique traditions. There’s no milk in victory lane, but NASCAR did start the tradition of kissing the iconic brick-covered start-finish line after winning — thanks to current NBC analyst Dale Jarrett.

So, what’s in store for Indianapolis this year? What’s the TV schedule for the weekend? And who could contend for the win on Sunday? Here’s everything you need to know for Brickyard 400:

When is the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race?

The Brickyard is set for Sunday, July 27, at 2:20 p.m. ET.

Before the race, there will be practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday, respectively. All 39 drivers will hit the track for practice Friday, with 50 minutes scheduled. For qualifying, each driver will get one lap to set the starting order based on speed — taking the track in this order.

NASCAR TV schedule this weekend for Brickyard 400

This weekend marks the final race airing on TNT before NBC takes over for the rest of the season.

Adam Alexander (play-by-play), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (analyst) and Steve Letarte (analyst) will be on the call, with Shannon Spake, Jamie McMurray and Parker Kligerman providing pre- and post-race coverage.

Here’s the full schedule for Indianapolis:

Friday, July 25 (truTV and HBO Max)

• Practice: 1:05 p.m. ET, truTV and HBO Max

Saturday, July 26 (truTV and HBO Max)

• Qualifying: 2:35 p.m. ET, truTV and HBO Max

Sunday, July 27 (TNT and HBO Max)

• NASCAR Nation Pre-Race: 1 p.m. ET, TNT and HBO Max
• Brickyard 400: 2 p.m. ET, TNT and HBO Max
• NASCAR Nation Post-Race: 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT and HBO Max

The 2025 NASCAR season kicks off on Feb. 16, 2025 with the 67th running of the Daytona 500.

Who is racing in the Brickyard 400? Here’s the entry list

Thirty-nine drivers will race at the Brickyard — the 36 full-timers, plus three additional entries.

Josh Bilicki (Garage 66), Jesse Love (Beard Motorsports) and Katherine Legge (Live Fast Motorsports) are continuing their part-time schedules this season by racing at this historic venue. Bilicki and Love are both making their fourth Cup start of 2025, while Legge is back for her fifth. She has also made four prior starts at the Brickyard in the Indianapolis 500, so the track should be familiar.

Two other drivers in the spotlight at Ty Gibbs and Ty Dillon, who are competing in the final round of the In-Season Challenge with $1 million waiting for whoever crosses the finish line first.

Here’s the full entry list for Indy:

Brickyard 400 picks, predictions, favorites

Last week at Dover, the powerhouse organizations stole the show. Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports drivers occupied the top six finishing positions and led 387 of 407 laps. Expect more of the same at the Brickyard.

Starting with JGR, no driver has had more close calls without a Brickyard win than Denny Hamlin. Fresh off a win at Dover, the 44-year-old star knows he doesn’t have many more chances left to kiss the bricks. His teammate and Indiana native Chase Briscoe, who was second last week, is another strong pick — as is Christopher Bell, who was fourth at Indy last year.

For HMS, it all starts with Kyle Larson. Last year’s Brickyard 400 winner has started the last two Indy 500’s — giving him more track time here than any driver. Sure, it’s a different car, but the experience certainly helped him last year. Chase Elliott, after leading 238 laps last week, is leading the points standings and should challenge for the victory.

James Gilbert/Getty Images

James Gilbert/Getty Images

The third traditional powerhouse organization is Team Penske, who hasn’t quite had its usual speed this season. If there’s a track for them to turn it around, though, it’s Indy. Team owner Roger Penske owns and operates the track, and none of his drivers have yet won there. Ryan Blaney is the best bet for Penske this year.

If anyone can topple those three, look toward a pair of upstart teams — RFK Racing and 23XI Racing.

Tyler Reddick (40 laps led), Brad Keselowski (35) and Bubba Wallace (26) were the top three lap-leaders at the Brickyard last year — and all three need a win to lock themselves into the playoffs. Reddick was second and Wallace was fifth for 23XI, while Keselowski ran out of fuel while leading late in the race and finished 21st.

The winning pick for Indy is Elliott, who bounces back from disappointment last week to finally score his first career crown jewel victory.

NASCAR past winners, race history for the Brickyard 400

Just three of the 39 drivers in the field are past winners at the Brickyard.

Busch has won the race twice (2015 and 2016), while Keselowski (2018) and Larson (2024) are one-time winners.

NASCAR pit stops are a sport themselves with how much planning goes into a perfect pit stop. Here’s what you need to know about what happens during a pit stop.