The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday for the Brickyard 400. More than 100,000 fans could pack the frontstretch grandstands to watch the conclusion of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge with $1 million on the line for Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland.
Conditions are expected to be hot and slick this Sunday, which places a premium on driver stamina in the cockpit. Traders on prediction market apps like Kalshi have already placed more than $600,000 in forecasts on the eventual winner of the 400-mile race. Entering the weekend, here’s how we see the current standings.
Denny Hamlin finished third in last year’s race. He’s reasonably priced at 21¢ if you’re looking to pick up options on a proven veteran. Bubba Wallace is the Brickyard 400 defending champion and can be bought on the Kalshi winner’s market for 6 cents.
The two “dark horses” in this race are Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland, who will be competing against each other to claim the $1 million prize for winning the NASCAR In-Season Challenge. While their odds to win the Brickyard 400 this weekend are slim, they could still be great value-based options since they’re priced at 6 cents and 1 cent, respectively, to win.
You’ll hear an extra roar from the crowd if Blaney and Gilliland are racing close to each other approaching the final lap on Sunday. Kyle Larson seems a bit overpriced at the moment, but it might be worth buying his “yes” contracts if his price dips to 10 cents.
Due to how “dirty air” circulates around the corners, it’s actually considered an advantage if you’re closely trailing in second place upon entering the final lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The scorched asphalt will make tire grip an issue in the 90-degree heat.
Joey Logano will be a driver to watch Sunday afternoon. His dominant performance at North Wilkesboro has put him on the radar of many racing enthusiasts.
Still, the event to watch may be separate from who actually finishes in first place. The Blaney vs. Gilliland heads-up battle has taken four weeks to reveal itself. There’s a million-dollar prize for the driver who has the best finish between those two.
Kalshi traders have bumped Joey Logano’s price up to 4¢ per contract based on his recent win. There’s also been a price jump for Kyle Larson, up to 12 cents. However, Larson is still trading well below the 15¢ per-contract price he possessed earlier this week.
Racing fans can watch all the action starting with the green flag on TNT Sports. HBO Max subscribers can stream the event live with a premium membership, as long as they’re physically located in the United States.
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