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14 NASCAR Cup drivers to watch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course

Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star
·4 min read
8

NASCAR Cup returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the third time for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. Tyler Reddick won last year's race, and he won on the Circuit of the Americas road course in 2023.

This is the fourth Cup race on a road or street course in 2023. Earlier races were held at COTA (March 26), Sonoma Raceway in California (June 11) and the series' debut downtown street race in Chicago (July 2), won by Australian Supercars driver Shane Van Gisbergen in his first NASCAR start. He makes his second at IMS.

Here are 14 drivers who have fared well on the 2023 road courses and/or the IMS 14-turn, 2.439-mile venue.

Qualifying wrap-up: Daniel Suarez wins pole position at Indianapolis

Back to the oval?: NASCAR to hold two-day tire test at IMS after road-course race

Not just a North American thing: Who are Shane van Gisbergen and other international drivers?

Car No. 16, A.J. Allmendinger

Jul 8, 2023; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger (16) qualifies at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Jul 8, 2023; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger (16) qualifies at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Allmendinger, an Indianapolis 500 veteran, won the inaugural Cup race on the IMS road course in 2021. He backed that up with a 7th-place finish in 2022.

2023 road course results, including track and finish: COTA, 34th / Sonoma, 6th / Chicago, 17th. He qualified 26th.

17, Chris Buescher

Jul 30, 2023; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher (17) races during the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Jul 30, 2023; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher (17) races during the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.

Buescher is a consistent top-10 driver on road courses, finishing as high as 4th this year. He has finishes of 12th and 10th at IMS and is on a two-race winning streak heading to the Speedway.

2023 road results: COTA, 8 / Somona, 4 / Chicago, 10. He qualified 17th.

8, Kyle Busch

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch races during the Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 25, 2023.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch races during the Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Though the two-time Brickyard 400 champion (2015, '16) hasn't been there at the finish on the IMS road course yet, he has been Cup's most consistent road-course performer in 2023, with an average finish of 3rd.

2023 road results: COTA, 2 / Sonoma, 2 / Chicago, 5. He qualified 5th.

1, Ross Chastain

Jul 30, 2023; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) races during the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Jul 30, 2023; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) races during the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.

He has two top-10s on the road in 2023.

2023 road results: COTA, 4 / Sonoma, 10 / Chicago, 22. He qualified 21st.

2, Austin Cindric

Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric, who calls strategy for Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden, Austin has knocked on the door at the IMS road course with finishes of 9th and 2nd.

2023 road results: COTA, 6 / Sonoma, 25 / Chicago, 6. He qualified 20th.

9, Chase Elliott

Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) during the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) during the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Elliott missed the first road race this season due to injury, but he's a definitely a contender. He finished 4th at IMS in 2021.

2023 road results: COTA, did not race / Sonoma, 5 / Chicago, 3. He qualified 3rd.

54, Ty Gibbs

Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Gibbs (54) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Gibbs (54) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

He has two top-10s on the road in 2023.

2023 road results: COTA, 9 / Sonoma, 18 / Chicago, 9. He qualified 10th.

31, Justin Haley

Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley (31) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jul 15, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley (31) races in the qualifying round of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The 24-year-old from Winamac, Indiana, earned a runner-up finish on the streets of Chicago.

2023 road results: COTA, 19 / Sonoma, 21 / Chicago, 2. He qualified 15th.

5, Kyle Larson

Jul 22, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) during practice and qualifying for the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Jul 22, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) during practice and qualifying for the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.

He has two victories in 2023 and a 3rd-place finish on the IMS road course in 2021.

2023 road results: COTA, 14 / Sonoma, 8 / Chicago, 4. He qualified 6th.

22, Joey Logano

Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races into turn four during the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races into turn four during the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Logano has one race win this season and two top-10s on road courses.

2023 road results: COTA, 28 / Sonoma, 3 / Chicago, 8. He qualified 18th.

34, Michael McDowell

Jun 10, 2023; Sonoma, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell (34) performs a practice lap before qualifications at Sonoma Raceway.
Jun 10, 2023; Sonoma, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell (34) performs a practice lap before qualifications at Sonoma Raceway.

He has two top-10s on road courses in 2023.

2023 road results: COTA, 12 / Sonoma, 7 / Chicago, 7. He qualified 4th.

45, Tyler Reddick

Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) races during the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) races during the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.

It seems to be feast or famine on the road courses for Reddick. He has finishes of 21st and 1st at IMS.

2023 road results: COTA, 1 / Sonoma, 33 / Chicago, 28. He qualified 2nd.

19, Martin Truex Jr.

Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr (19) races during the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr (19) races during the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.

The Cup points leader has three wins in 2023, including Sonoma.

2023 road results: COTA, 17 / Sonoma, 1 / Chicago, 32. He qualified 12th.

91, Shane van Gisbergen

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 02: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #91 Enhance Health Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course on July 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 02: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #91 Enhance Health Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course on July 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Van Gisbergen will be busy this weekend. He will drive in the Truck Series on the Lucas Oil Raceway oval on Friday night and make his second Cup start on Sunday. He qualified 8th.

NASCAR Cup winners in 2023

William Byron (4 races), Kyle Busch (3), Martin Truex Jr. (3), Chris Buescher (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Kyle Larson (2), Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Shane Van Gisbergen

2023 NASCAR Cup drivers' standings

16 drivers make the playoffs following the Aug. 26 race at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Driver / points / wins

Martin Truex Jr. / 799 / 3

Dennis Hamlin / 742 / 2

William Byron / 703 / 4

Christopher Bell / 677 / 1

Kevin Harvick / 663 / 0

Kyle Larson / 662 / 2

Ross Chastain / 656 / 1

Brad Keselowski / 651 / 0

Kyle Busch / 649 / 3

Ryan Blaney / 642 / 1

Chris Buescher / 639 / 2

Joey Logano / 636 / 1

Tyler Reddick / 609 / 1

Bubba Wallace / 541 / 0

Ricky Stenhouse / 530 / 1

Ty Gibbs / 486 / 0

Drivers behind 16th: Michael McDowell (483), Daniel Suarez (481), A.J. Allmendinger (462), Alex Bowman (442), Austin Cindric (43), Chase Elliott (431).

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NASCAR drivers to watch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course