What’s Happening?

One of the most hotly anticipated weekends of the NASCAR season is finally here, as the circuit makes its’ long-awaited return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval with the Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series racing at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park. Heat is always an issue at Indianapolis, but will rain put a damper on a historic weekend?

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NASCAR Indianapolis Weekend: TV Schedule, Entry Lists, Race Info, and More

NASCAR Indianapolis Weekend: TV Schedule, Entry Lists, Race Info, and More

What’s Happening? For the first time since 2020, the NASCAR Cup Series prepares to take on the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway…

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• NASCAR has contested races at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1994 with the Brickyard 400. The race quickly became a “Crown Jewel,” the highest-attended race of the season, but lackluster racing and the tire disaster of 2008 saw the race fall out of prominence. As a result, NASCAR moved the race to the infield road course for three years before returning to the oval this year. Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP, a nearby motorsports complex featuring a road course, drag strip, and short track, hosts some of the lower NASCAR ranks the same weekend.
• The weather has occasionally impacted races in Indianapolis, most recently this May’s Indianapolis 500, which was delayed until late afternoon. As far as NASCAR is concerned, heat is typically the biggest issue, but pop-up summer thunderstorms come from time to time.
• Fans are incredibly excited about this weekend at Indianapolis. This is a return to a traditional “Crown Jewel” at arguably the most iconic race course in the world.

Weekend Weather Forecast via National Weather Service

Friday, July 19th: ARCA Menards Series Circle City 200 at IRP (5:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Sunny
• Temperature: High around 79°F
• Rain: 0%
• Wind: NE 6 MPH

Friday, July 19th: Truck Series TSport 200 at IRP (8:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Mostly Clear
• Temperature: High around 74°F, Dropping to 60s°F by race end.
• Rain: 0%
• Wind: NE 3-6 MPH

Saturday, July 20th: Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 at IMS (3:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Sunny
• Temperature: High 82°F, Heat Index 83°F
• Rain: 0%
• Wind: NNE 3 MPH

Sunday, July 21st: Cup Series Brickyard 400 at IMS (2:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Partly Sunny
• Temperature: High 83°F, Heat Index 84°F
• Rain: 2%
• Wind: NE 3 MPH

Indianapolis NASCAR Weather History

While the Brickyard 400 has gotten some decent luck with the weather in the past, some events have been less fortunate. The second running of the Brickyard 400 in 1995 was delayed over four hours due to rain, and the bad situation was made worse when ABC decided to cancel live coverage of the race, instead scheduling a tape-delayed broadcast on ESPN the following day. Dale Earnhardt took home the win.

For a more modern Indianapolis weather issue, the 2018 race, scheduled in September as the regular season finale, was postponed to Monday due to rain. It was the first time NASCAR postponed a race at Indianapolis, but the Monday show was worth the wait. Brad Keselowski score the victory; the first NASCAR win at Indianapolis for team owner and soon-to-be track owner Roger Penske.

This article will be updated as the week progresses and the forecast changes.