Last Updated on July 27, 2025 8:59 am by Anthony Rome
This weekend, the Brickyard 400 caps off NASCAR’s inaugural In‑Season Challenge, with the winner of this race claiming the $1 million prize in addition to a Cup Series victory. As the final crown jewel race on the 2.5‑mile IMS oval, strategy and draft‑play will be key on the wide straights and flatter corners typical of the Brickyard layout. The green flag drops at 2:00 p.m. ET with coverage on TNT.
Brickyard 400 Event Information
What: Brickyard 400
When: 2:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 27, 2025
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Watch: TNT, truTV and HBO Max
Brickyard 400 Betting Odds
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook Bovada.lv, Kyle Larson is a +400 favorite. William Byron is +700, Chase Briscore is +800 and Denny Hamlin is +850. Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick, meanwhile, are +1100, respectively. Christopher Bell is +1200 to win the Brickyard 400, while Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs are all +1600, respectively. Brad Keselowski is +1800.
Brickyard 400 Driver Trends
Season momentum heavily favors Denny Hamlin, fresh off his Dover win and holding four Cup victories so far—with several strong Pocono (a track similar to Indy) performances under his belt. He’s finished top‑5 in seven of his last eight Brickyard starts.
Kyle Larson, the defending Brickyard oval winner, also profiles as a top contender in strong equipment and with proven speed at IMS. William Byron, tied for favoritism in some books, enters with solid speed and a big-season Daytona 500 win, but uneven recent form clouds his Brickyard upside.
Value plays center on Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Chris Buescher, all showing speed on 2.5‑mile tracks and offering appealing mid‑range odds for those seeking upside. Joey Logano, although longer at around +2000–2800, has a deep history at IMS with multiple top‑10s over 13 starts and a strong record of consistency.
Prediction & Betting Outlook
1. Primary Pick – Denny Hamlin
With dominant season form, strength at Pocono-like tracks, and strong Brickyard history, Hamlin is the logical favorite. His Dover win earlier in July sets a confident tone for another top result.
2. Bold Longshot – Joey Logano
Despite +2000+ odds, Logano’s experience is a big asset. With 13 starts at Indy resulting in seven Top‑10s and strong Penske support, he’s a sneaky longshot bet with high upside (especially given nostalgic power and consistent performance in past Brickyards).
3. Value Upside – Christopher Bell or Chris Buescher
Bell has stellar results on intermediate tracks and finished fourth here last year; Buescher and Keselowski also represent smaller‑market value potential, particularly from RFK Racing crews trending upward.
4. In‑Season Challenge subplot
For Gibbs and Ty Dillon, progression matters: winning today would capture the $1M bracket prize regardless of playoff implications. They might run more aggressively as a result.
Predicted Finish Order
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano
Expect Hamlin to lead a highly competitive top tier, with Larson and Bell battling closely and Logano sneaking into contention late on fuel/draft strategy.