Larson Favored as Xfinity Series Tackles Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Pennzoil 250 promises thrilling competition at historic Brickyard
The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 250, with Kyle Larson widely anticipated to dominate. Last year’s dramatic finish saw Riley Herbst clinch a hard-fought victory, and the field is eager to see if new contenders can emerge.
Track History and Key Figures
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a legendary 2.5-mile oval built in 1909, features 9 degrees of banking in its four turns. The Xfinity Series has a storied history at the track, with **Brad Keselowski** taking the inaugural win in 2011. **Kyle Busch** holds the record for most Xfinity wins at Indy with four victories. **Justin Allgaier** is the only current full-time driver with a win at the Speedway. **Tyler Reddick** set the track lap record in 2018 with a time of 48.878 seconds.
Driver Watchlist and Predictions
Several notable drivers are joining the Xfinity Series field for this event. **Kyle Larson** enters as the clear favorite, given his consistent performance. Rookie **Connor Zilisch** is also a driver to watch in his first Indy appearance. Veteran **Aric Almirola**, who finished third last year, is expected to contend for a strong showing, though perhaps not a win against Larson.
The Haas Factory Team, defending last year’s victory, faces questions about their current form, but are still expected to be competitive. Other notable entries include **Garrett Smithley**, **Katherine Legge**, **Mason Massey**, **Joey Gase**, **Leland Honeyman**, **Dawson Cram**, and **Josh Bilicki**.
Xfinity Series Point Standings Update
Following the recent race at Dover, **Justin Allgaier** leads the Xfinity Series standings with 730 points. **Connor Zilisch** sits in second with 674 points, followed by **Sam Mayer** in third with 652 points. The competition remains tight as the season progresses.
Race Details and Viewing Information
The Pennzoil 250 is scheduled for 100 laps and 250 miles. Stage cautions will occur on laps 30 and 60, with the final checkered flag waving on lap 100. A prize purse of $1,651,939 is at stake. Teams will utilize Goodyear tires, with Goodyear bringing the compound most recently used at Pocono. Competitors will be allotted four sets of tires, three fresh and one from qualifying.
Fans can catch practice sessions and qualifying on the CW App on Friday, July 25th, and Saturday, July 26th, respectively. The main event, the Pennzoil 250, will be broadcast live on The CW on Saturday at 4:30 PM Eastern, with radio coverage available on SiriusXM’s NASCAR Radio.