SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns from a two-week break this weekend for one of the most prestigious races of the season, the Pennzoil 250 Presented by Take 5 Oil Change at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Saturday’s race marks the 22nd points-paying event of the 2026 season and sends the series back to the iconic 2.5-mile oval for 100 laps (250 miles) in one of NASCAR’s crown-jewel venues. The green flag is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, with live coverage on The CW, the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The race comes at a pivotal point in the championship battle as the regular season begins to wind down. Every point becomes increasingly valuable with the playoffs approaching, while Indianapolis offers one of the biggest opportunities of the year for drivers to cement their championship credentials.
Drivers to Watch
Connor Zilisch returns as the defending winner of the Pennzoil 250 after capturing last year’s race at the Brickyard.
Championship contenders Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, Taylor Gray and Carson Kvapil headline a loaded field featuring many of the series’ top organizations.
Several Cup Series regulars will also add star power, including Alex Bowman, who is entered in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, while highly touted rookies Corey Day, Brent Crews and Lavar Scott continue their development against veteran competition.
Entry List Highlights
The preliminary entry list features more than 35 cars, including:
- Justin Allgaier (No. 7, JR Motorsports)
- Sammy Smith (No. 8, JR Motorsports)
- Jesse Love (No. 2, Richard Childress Racing)
- Austin Hill (No. 21, Richard Childress Racing)
- Brandon Jones (No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing)
- Taylor Gray (No. 54, Joe Gibbs Racing)
- Sam Mayer (No. 41, Haas Factory Team)
- Sheldon Creed (No. 00, Haas Factory Team)
- Carson Kvapil (No. 91, DGM Racing)
- Corey Day (No. 17, Hendrick Motorsports)
- Brent Crews (No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing)
- Alex Bowman (No. 88, JR Motorsports)
- Ryan Sieg (No. 39, RSS Racing)
- Harrison Burton (No. 24, Sam Hunt Racing)
- Anthony Alfredo (No. 96, Viking Motorsports)
- Parker Retzlaff (No. 99, Viking Motorsports)
- Ryan Ellis (No. 02, Young’s Motorsports)
- Jeremy Clements (No. 51, Jeremy Clements Racing)
The complete field features many of the series’ top full-time competitors alongside several special entries as NASCAR’s second-tier series returns to one of the sport’s most historic venues.
Since returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the Pennzoil 250 has once again become one of the marquee events on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar. With valuable championship points and one of NASCAR’s most recognizable trophies on the line, Saturday’s race is expected to play a significant role in shaping the postseason picture.