Denny Hamlin will lead a 39-car field into the 2026 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 26. He arrives as the clear betting favorite at +300, chasing the one crown jewel his resume still lacks.
Sunday carries a second prize. Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland meet in the final round of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, with $1 million going to whichever driver finishes higher. Below is a full breakdown of the 2026 Brickyard 400 odds, the top of the board, mid-tier value plays, and longshots worth tracking.
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
2026 Brickyard 400 — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, IN |
| When | Sunday, July 26 – 2:00 PM ET |
| TV | TNT |
Denny Hamlin Leads 2026 Brickyard 400 Odds
The case for Hamlin is straightforward. He leads the Cup Series standings, has won four times in 2026, and has led more laps than any other driver this season. He was running second again at North Wilkesboro on July 19, chasing Joey Logano across the line. The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has been the most complete package on the circuit for months. That is the profile that wins on a flat, low-grip 2.5-mile oval.
The case against is equally clear. Hamlin has never won a Cup Series race at Indianapolis in two decades of trying. His +300 price implies roughly 25 percent in a 39-car field, which is a demanding number for any driver at this track. Indianapolis has also turned chaotic late. Both the 2024 and 2025 editions were settled in double overtime. Restarts and fuel windows decide this race more often than raw speed does.
Tyler Reddick sits third at +750 and leads the series with five wins. Kyle Larson is priced at +650 despite going winless in 2026. His number rests largely on the 2024 Brickyard victory. Christopher Bell (+800) has been fast and unrewarded. Defending winner Bubba Wallace and Chicagoland winner Chase Briscoe share the +900 line.
The lean here is still Hamlin. The market has him on top because he has the best car and the fewest weaknesses, and the board is reading that correctly. The Indianapolis winless streak is a storyline, not a mechanism. What makes the call wrong is the closing sequence. A late caution or a bad restart lane strips the fastest car of its advantage. Indianapolis has produced that outcome two years running, and +300 leaves little room to absorb it.
2026 Brickyard 400 — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin | +300 |
| Kyle Larson | +650 |
| Tyler Reddick | +750 |
| Christopher Bell | +800 |
| Bubba Wallace | +900 |
| Chase Briscoe | +900 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| William Byron | +1200 |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 |
| Ty Gibbs | +1600 |
Odds accurate as of Wednesday, July 22, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NASCAR Odds – Props
Brickyard 400 Mid-Tier Value Plays
The genuine middle of this board runs from roughly +1800 out to +5000. That band holds drivers with real equipment and no favorite’s premium on the price. Track position and pit execution matter more here than a small speed edge.
Carson Hocevar (+1800) is having the best season of his career. He scored his first Cup win at Talladega in April 2026 and has set personal bests in top fives, top 10s, and average finish. Spire Motorsports has closed much of the gap to the top teams. The concern is that his breakthrough came on a superspeedway. That is a very different discipline from Indianapolis.
Joey Logano (+2500) just led a career-high 323 laps to win at North Wilkesboro. That was his first victory since May 2025, so the form is thin behind it. Still, Team Penske found something at a flat, worn short track. Indianapolis rewards a similar setup philosophy, and the price reflects the drought more than the current car.
Chris Buescher (+2800) has been quietly consistent through July. He added a top 10 at Atlanta and ran inside the top 10 for much of North Wilkesboro before a caution cycle cost him. RFK Racing has speed it has not converted. Brad Keselowski (+4000) is the more volatile RFK play. He has fought balance issues for weeks. Still, he turned a 23rd-place start into a seventh-place finish at North Wilkesboro. Neither driver has the week-to-week floor of the top tier.
Brickyard 400 Longshots and Race-Day Storylines
Todd Gilliland (+30000) is the story of the weekend regardless of where he finishes. He beat Chase Elliott at North Wilkesboro to reach the In-Season Challenge final and now races Ryan Blaney for $1 million. A win at this price remains a genuine longshot. The motivation, at least, is not in question.
Michael McDowell (+25000) has won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, though that 2023 victory came on the road course rather than the oval. The layouts share almost nothing, so the history is context rather than evidence. He does convert chaotic finishes better than most.
Connor Zilisch (+35000) is the deepest play worth a mention. The 19-year-old rookie is the youngest full-time Cup driver since Joey Logano in 2009 and won eight times in his first 27 Xfinity Series starts. Trackhouse Racing equipment gives him a floor. Asking a rookie to win a crown jewel is a lot, which is why the number is this long.
Two scheduling notes matter for anyone shopping this board early. Cup Series qualifying does not run until Saturday, July 25, so the starting lineup is not yet set and prices will move once it is. The Brickyard 400 is also race 22 of 36 and the In-Season Challenge finale.
For a look at how this board compared a week ago, see our 2026 Window World 450 odds breakdown from North Wilkesboro.
2026 NASCAR Brickyard 400 Sunday July 26, 2026 FAQ
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Brickyard 400?
Denny Hamlin is the betting favorite at +300. He leads the NASCAR Cup Series points standings and has won four times in 2026. He has never won a Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Who do you like to win the 2026 Brickyard 400?
Denny Hamlin is the most likely winner in this field. He has the strongest car and the best season-long form, though +300 leaves little margin if the race is decided on a late restart.
When is the 2026 Brickyard 400?
The 2026 Brickyard 400 is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026. The green flag is set for 2:00 PM ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.
What channel is the 2026 Brickyard 400 on?
The 2026 Brickyard 400 will be broadcast on TNT. The race also streams on HBO Max, with radio coverage on the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Who won the Brickyard 400 last year?
Bubba Wallace won the 2025 Brickyard 400. He held off Kyle Larson by .222 of a second in double overtime. Wallace became the first Black driver to win a Cup race at Indianapolis.
Who has won the Brickyard 400 the most times?
Jeff Gordon holds the record with five Brickyard 400 victories. Gordon won at Indianapolis in 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2014.