The past weekend centered entirely around the famous Indianapolis Motors Speedway, and the track’s little brother down the road known as Lucas Oil Raceway Park (FKA Indianapolis Raceway Park). The ARCA Menards Series and Craftsman Truck Series saw action at Lucas Oil, while the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series hit Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a chance to kiss the bricks.
Lucas Oil Raceway has been a long standing tradition on NASCAR’s Indy weekend, with the NOAP Series competing there for years before moving to the sprawling Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We have quite a few hidden gems and great stories that came out of the weekend, so time to get to it.
Next weekend? Nobody is anywhere. NASCAR as a whole is off in all series, taking a much needed break before the final run to the chase begins at Iowa.
Also I am trying something new with this piece in the series, so please let me know if you like!
Lucas Oil Raceway Park
LIUNA! 150 presented by IDEAL GARAGE DOOR
Race Winner: Kaden Honeycutt
Pole: Carson Brown
#85 QUINN DAVIS
At only 17, Quinn Davis and the City Garage Motorsports team are quietly improving weekly. Primarily a competitor in the ARCA Menards East Series, the #85 Ford made an appearance in the national ARCA Menards Series at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. Both driver and team set out on a mission to evolve and improve in 2026, making a point of letting the field know they exist….and they showed up in a big way at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.
THE STORY:
Driver Davis who is very new into her stock car career, has been putting in the work with her City Garage teammates to hit that next level. In LORP, Davis qualified the #85 Ford 16th, and finished 11th (completing 149 of 150 laps). Davis ran in the top ten most of the race before car and tires gave in, relegating the #85 Ford to 11th.
Davis (85) and Dystany Spurlock (66).Photo Credit: City Garage Motorsports X Page
Lucas Oil Raceway was just Davis’ second start of the season in the national ARCA Series, and sixth overall. She has now also matched her best career finish of 11th, which came at Elko in 2025. Davis also finished 12th at Toledo earlier this season.
You can check out a short clip of Quinn Davis and the City Garage team preparing for the race via X here
Lucas Oil Raceway Park
TSPORT 200 presented by WARN INDUSTRIES
Race Winner: Layne Riggs
Pole: Layne Riggs
#77 NICK SANCHEZ
2026 has not gone as Nick Sanchez planned, beginning in the NOAP Series in Daytona, as mentioned in previous articles in this series, Sanchez signed with AM Racing very late in the off season, but before long was let go as the team could fulfil their obligations (or performance). This has left Sanchez searching for rides, eventually finding a home with Peterson Racing Group in their NOAP Series #87 Chevy part-time. Pulling double duty on this Indy weekend, Sanchez also made his return to the trucks with Spire Motorsports.
THE STORY:
The former REV Racing prospect made his first start in a truck since 2025 at LORP, and last competed full-time in the series in 2024. Tapped to pilot the #77 Chevrolet for Spire, Sanchez surely got a much needed confidence boost in his return. Rolling off 3rd, Sanchez made his presence felt throughout the night, and collected a 5th place finish for his efforts. LORP was also Sanchez’s first top five finish since Phoenix in 2024.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Justin Casterline/Getty Images
In a season filled with uncertainty, Sanchez surely needed the run at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. While the part-time #87 gig is a warm seat, it comes at the price of the team’s driver Austin Green. Green is being relegated to part-time status in his rookie season, due to the change. Add this to the mess with AM Racing, and the truck performance shows Sanchez still has what it takes.
#1 GAVAN BOSCHELE
One of the biggest surprises coming out of the CTS race at Lucas Oil Raceway came from a debuting driver. A promising driver in the Toyota development pipeline, Gavan Boschele has spent 2026 racing part-time with Nitro Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. Boschele got the call to take over TRICON Garage’s #1 Toyota, and the race turned into one heck of a debut in any series.
THE STORY:
Having gotten the call to pilot TRICON’s #1 Toyota at LORP, Boschele has a run I think may have even surprised the promising driver. Following a 19th place qualifying effort, Boschele quickly made his way into the top ten. Running with the biggest names in the truck series the entire event, Boschele was able collect his first career top ten in his debut, finishing 8th.
Practically unheard of in the current chaotic CTS climate, Boschele showed speed out of the gate, did not ruffle any feathers, and kept the truck clean. On the ARCA side, the Nitro Motorsports driver has five top five finishes in six starts this season. At only 18, this was a solid debut weekend for someone to keep an eye on if Toyota continues their support.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
PENNZOIL 250 presented by TAKE 5 OIL CHANGE
Race Winner: Carson Kvapil
Pole: Sheldon Creed
#1 CARSON KVAPIL
This is going to be one of the rare times that the race winner gets their flowers in this series. Yes, Kvapil drives for what is arguably one of two elite teams in the 2026 NOAP Series…but there is more that lies in the shadows of this story. Saturday’s event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was likely the best of the two races run at The Brickyard (hot subject currently…I know), backed up by the fact the victory went to a driver long overdue for his first career NOAP Series win.
THE STORY:
A former CARS Tour Standout, Kvapil made his way through the ranks and debuted for JR Motorsports in the now NOAP Series in 2024. Running a full rookie campaign in 2025, Kvapil made it clear he was the right choice for the JRM Ride, and narrowly missed winning the championship. This led to what appeared to be a surprising change in confidence from JRM brass, and Kvapil was bumped down to part-time status in 2026.
Fast-forward to Indy in 2026, and Kvapil has put together a championship-caliber season again…this time driving three different cars for two different teams. Spending time in the seat of JRM’s #1 Chevrolet, JRM’s #9 Chevrolet, and DGM Racing’s #91 Chevrolet would be enough to kill any momentum. Instead Kvapil dug in, pulled competitive races out of all his cars, and now has earned his first career NOAP Series win. Kvapil drove the #1 Chevrolet to the lead, and led a convincing final 23 laps right into victory lane.
#51 JEREMY CLEMENTS
Jeremy Clements and Jeremy Clements Racing have been a long-time presence in the NOAP Series garage. A series veteran that now has 552 career starts to his credit, is having a much deserved almost breakout season in 2026. As the season began, JCR aligned themselves with Haas Factory Team in an attempt to give the #51 Chevrolet some serious oomf for this season. While luck has not always been on Clements’ side (this unfortunately does include Indy), the up tick in performance has been clear…and an almost exclamation point was put on that run in Indianapolis.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Jeremy Clements Racing
THE STORY:
When the #51 rolled off from it’s 4th place starting spot, Clements knew he had some serious muscle under the hood for the event. In a race that featured the likes of Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott, Clements flexed that muscle in Stage 1 of the event. Easily keeping pace with the front, Clements eventually found himself on point for the final nine laps of the stage. After, the #51 Chevrolet held off a slew of “name” drivers before claiming the Stage 1 win.
Following Stage 1, pit stops set the JCR team back a bit but still running strong. The bad luck bug could not stay away however, and Clements, despite the impressive run….would finish 37th after late tire issues. While the finish was not what was intended, Clements showed up and showed out in Indy. If performances like this continue, and with the increased technical support, Clements could collect third career win before 2026 is done.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
BRICKYARD 400 presented by PPG
Race Winner: Corey Heim
Pole: Carson Hocevar
#67 COREY HEIM
As the 2027 season slowly draws closer, former truck series champion Corey Heim is proving his doubters wrong, he does indeed belong, and is ready for the brighter lights of the Cup Series. While Heim had a dominant run to the truck championship in 2025, many have proven in years past that it does not always guarantee success at the Cup level. “Heim Time” however, has quickly slammed the door on any doubts…and despite running a partial Cup schedule this season, has now earned his second career Cup Series trophy already. Heim’s penchant for high profile wins continued in Indy.
THE STORY:
Heim’s 2026 season has been interesting to say the least. The former truck champ spent much of 2026 in limbo, picking up partial schedules in both trucks and Cup…both of which have led to wins. Indianapolis however, was yet another notch in the young Toyota star’s belt.
The day started immediately with a 7th place qualifying effort, proving Heim’s #67 23XI Racing Toyota could be a threat to steal a win. As the race wore on, it became quickly obvious Heim had a stout car…finishing top five in both stages. Sneaking up to the lead following a caution for chaos on lap 126, Heim assumed the lead, and streaked away to the win, leading the final 35 laps. If the combination of Heim, and crew chief Bootie Barker remain for 2027…the Cup Series field may be in for a serious challenge. Also, it should be noted that Heim now has two career Cup wins in only 15 starts.
#41 COLE CUSTER
Cole Custer’s 2026 season in Cup with the re-branded Haas Factory Team has not gone to plan much. Unlike Custer’s NOAP Series counterparts, the #41 Chevrolet is operating as a single car team in a world of monster multi-car teams. Despite having an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, the #41 Chevrolet has struggled to find speed. This however, may have changed in Indy…with Custer having a quietly solid day in a season of struggles.
Photo Credit: Haas Factory Team site
THE STORY:
As mentioned above, Custer’s 2026 season, despite effort has gone mostly cold in the summer heat. A season of promise at Daytona quickly became one of searching for speed. Custer has spent a good portion of the season in mid-pack, which is where most of the accidents happen. Custer was able to fight out of this situation in Indianapolis, where he would qualify 12th and finish 13th.
While a 13th-place does not seem like a win, it has to feel like one for Custer and his #41 Chevrolet crew. Indianapolis was easily one of the teams better performances this season, both starting and finishing in the top 15. While not yet scoring that first top ten finish of the season, Indy was Custer’s best run since finishing 12th in Michigan.