Meet the Field: 2025 Brickyard 400 Driver Lineup
The 2025 Brickyard 400 is stacking up to be one of the most electric NASCAR races in recent years. From veteran champions to rising Indiana-born stars, this year’s entry list is packed with horsepower and hometown pride. The green flag drops Sunday, July 27 — but here’s who to keep an eye on before the rubber meets the bricks.
Expect about 40 cars to qualify for the race, with familiar names, new faces, and a few hopefuls looking to punch their ticket into Victory Lane at the Racing Capital of the World.
Three-Day Schedule Announced for 2025 Brickyard Weekend
The Big Names Gunning for Glory
These Cup Series heavy-hitters are all expected to make a run for the win:
Kyle Larson – The defending 2024 Brickyard 400 champ. Larson completed the Indy Double last year and will be back in the No. 5 Hendrick Chevy aiming for a repeat.
Denny Hamlin – The one that keeps slipping away. Hamlin’s never won at the Brickyard, and he’s made it clear: he wants it bad.
Kyle Busch – Two-time Brickyard winner. Busch thrives in big moments and always shows up at Indy.
Chase Elliott & William Byron – Hendrick teammates with serious speed. Don’t be shocked if one of them kisses the bricks.
Martin Truex Jr. & Joey Logano – Two of NASCAR’s most strategic racers. Truex still seeks his first Brickyard win; Logano already has one.
Hendrick Motorsports, in particular, has been dominant at IMS — with 11 Brickyard 400 victories. Don’t count them out.
Indiana Drivers: Hometown Heroes to Watch
This race always hits different for Indiana natives — and 2025 features a strong Hoosier showing:
Chase Briscoe (Mitchell, IN)
Driving the iconic No. 14 car for Stewart-Haas Racing, Briscoe is carrying on Tony Stewart’s legacy. He grew up dreaming of winning here — and this year, he gave away 500 race tickets to kids from his hometown. If he’s near the front late in the race, expect the crowd to erupt.
Justin Haley (Winamac, IN)
The ultimate underdog. Now driving for Rick Ware Racing, Haley shocked the world by winning Daytona as a rookie. He’s got talent and grit — and would love nothing more than to pull off another surprise, this time at home.
Katherine Legge (adopted Hoosier)
While not born in Indiana, she’s being backed by Indy-based venture studio Droplight. In 2025, she’s making history as the first woman to race both the Xfinity and Cup Series races at IMS in the same weekend. That alone has fans fired up.
Cookie Monster & Family Vibes
In case you missed it — Cookie Monster is the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Brickyard 400. This means he’ll shout the famous “Drivers, start your engines!” command and wave the green flag on race day. The crossover with Sesame Street is part of a family-first push by IMS: kids 15 and under get in free with a paying adult on Sunday.
Whether your kid’s a racing fan or just wants to see Cookie Monster up close, it’s the perfect weekend for making memories.
Rising Stars & Bold Predictions
Who could surprise us this year?
Ty Gibbs – The Joe Gibbs Racing phenom has speed, pedigree, and zero fear. A podium finish isn’t out of reach.
Josh Berry – Now in a full-time Cup ride, Berry’s a fan favorite who knows how to manage a race.
Connor Mosack – Not in the Cup field yet, but racing Xfinity with Indiana-backed OpenEyes sponsorship. He could be one to watch in the years to come.
Bold Prediction:
Katherine Legge qualifies for the 400 and finishes top-25 — making NASCAR history and winning over a new generation of fans in the process.
30 Years of Brickyard Glory
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the inaugural 1994 Brickyard 400, when Indiana’s own Jeff Gordon took the checkered and changed racing history. Keep an eye out for special tributes, former winners in attendance, and maybe even a “where are they now” nod to those early races.
Quick Q&A: Driver Details
Q: Who’s the top Indiana driver in 2025?
A: Chase Briscoe, hands down. The Stewart-Haas driver from Mitchell is the hometown favorite and has been vocal about how much Indy means to him.
Q: Will Katherine Legge really race in both events?
A: Yes! She’s the first woman to run both major NASCAR races at IMS in the same weekend. She’ll be in the Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 Saturday and then attempt to qualify for Sunday’s Brickyard 400.
Q: Any special tributes planned for this year’s race?
A: With this being the 30th anniversary of the Brickyard, expect callbacks to the 1994 race, possible Jeff Gordon cameos, and nods to fan-favorite moments like Tony Stewart’s 2005 win and fence-climb.
🏁 Ready to Cheer for Your Favorite Driver?
Whether you’re repping Briscoe, pulling for an underdog like Haley, or just hoping Cookie Monster waves a clean green flag — the Brickyard 400 always brings the drama. Come for the horsepower, stay for the Hoosier pride.
And don’t forget — check out our full Brickyard 400 guide here to plan your whole race weekend.