Michigan delivered a huge race for the Cup Series last weekend. #17 Chris Buescher took home a second win in a row. But this weekend we have the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in Indianapolis. The site of the Indy 500. This race is pivotal to a lot of racers still itching to get in the playoffs. Others can view this as an opportunity to stack up those playoff points and enter the post-season as an early favorite. This is a newer road course to the Cup Series and is always a good time for the viewers.
As usual, I’m here to deliver five drivers that I think will be worth watching on Sunday. Ones that could win, and others that will be entertaining either way. It’s a good time here at BellyUp Sports with our pre-race coverage. So without further delay, here is your Verizon 200 preview!
#2 Austin Cindric
Embed from Getty ImagesCindric has had a quiet 2023. In 2023 he has just three top-10 finishes. His best was a third-place finish at the Chicago Street Course. But the Penske driver is in luck, as the Indy Road Course has been wonderful for him both times he’s run it. He’s one of just two drivers to have two finishes inside the top 10 at both events here at the Verizon 200. Cindric can be a road course warrior and spoil a playoff push for some guys with a checkered flag finish. Watch out for the #2 car.
#9 Chase Elliott
Embed from Getty ImagesDon’t let Elliott fool you, he’s a damn good road course racer. He didn’t just get lucky with good finishes a couple of times. His average on these kinds of tracks is one of the best in NASCAR with an average 8th-place finish. At the Indy Road Course in particular he’s been solid. In two races he’s got a top five in its debut in 2021, and a 16th-place finish last year. His driver rating is second in the cup series at this place with a 103.7. He’s a driver in desperate need of a good weekend. And at a place where a lot of your average leaders may struggle, this may be his opportunity.
#12 Ryan Blaney
Embed from Getty ImagesYou might be surprised to know that Blaney has an average finish of 14th at road courses. You might also be surprised to know that the #12 driver finished second here in the course’s debut in 2021. Last year it was a 26th finish, but he started second. I think Blaney will be worth watching at this spot, he’s locked into the post-season already after winning the Coke 600. But this is a road course he’s had success at before. No reason why he can’t pull another rabbit out of the hat.
#16 A.J. Allmendinger
Embed from Getty ImagesThe other driver to have top-10 finishes in both races here? A.J. Allmendinger. He actually won this course’s debut in 2021 and finished seventh last year. Dinger is the definition of a road course warrior. He’s not great at ovals or superspeedways, but get him on a road course and he’s going to give you a run for your money. He’s had a career year in 2023 and sits just outside the playoff bubble with Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell. A win can lock him in, but two good finishes between here and Watkins Glen could really set him up for success.
#45 Tyler Reddick
Embed from Getty ImagesReddick has the other win of the Verizon 200. Last year he got the win, and in 2021 wasn’t too shabby either with a 21st-place finish after starting 11th. Road courses have been very kind to Reddick. As a matter of fact, his win that has him locked for the playoffs came at COTA way back when I first started writing content about the Cup Series in the spring. He’s had a fantastic season driving for the 23XI team and will be an underrated factor for the post-season. And I’ll look for him to post some great finishes at both the Indy Road Course and Watkins-Glen next weekend.
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