Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Newgarden Seeks Third Straight Short-Oval Win at Nashville
Josef Newgarden enters Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix as the outright favorite. A Hendersonville, Tennessee native, Newgarden won Nashville in 2025 and has since claimed victories at Phoenix Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway in 2026 — the last three short-oval races on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar. He has won 13 of the last 30 oval races since the start of the 2021 season, a strike rate of 43 percent. DraftKings lists him as the 3/1 favorite for Nashville, ahead of championship leader Alex Palou at 4/1 and Pato O’Ward at 9/2.
Sources: IndyCar.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
O’Ward Hunting Nashville Redemption After 2025 Heartbreak
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward arrives at Nashville with unfinished business. Last season he led a race-high 116 laps at Nashville Superspeedway before crashing from the lead. O’Ward brings fresh momentum this weekend after winning the most recent NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio on July 5. His oval record ranks among the strongest in the series: four career victories, nine runner-up finishes, and 24 top-five results in 34 oval starts. DraftKings lists him third at 9/2 for Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, behind Newgarden (3/1) and championship leader Alex Palou (4/1).
Sources: IndyCar.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Malukas Leads Oval Standings, Chases First Career Win at Nashville
David Malukas enters Nashville leading all NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitors in 2026 oval points. The Team Penske driver has scored 116 points across Phoenix Raceway, the Indianapolis 500, and World Wide Technology Raceway — more oval points than any other driver this season, including Newgarden. Malukas finished seventh at Nashville last season while racing for AJ Foyt Racing but arrives this year in Team Penske machinery. Still chasing his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, he is IndyCar.com’s pick as a Nashville sleeper. DraftKings prices him fourth among Nashville race favorites at 5/1.
Sources: IndyCar.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Nashville Race Grows to 400 Miles, Follows World Cup Final on Fox
Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway features an expanded race distance, growing from 300 miles to 400 miles. The race will follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on Fox, beginning approximately 25 minutes after the soccer match concludes. FOX Weather predicts temperatures approaching 90 degrees with a 55 percent chance of rain Sunday, introducing a potential weather element. Tire strategy adds further complexity: teams must use at least two sets of soft red tires and at least one set of hard tires, with possibly five or more pit stops anticipated on the 1.33-mile oval.
Sources: Fox Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Music City Weekend: Deadmau5, Vintage Indy Cars, World Cup Party
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix delivers a full entertainment lineup alongside Sunday’s oval race at Nashville Superspeedway. Country artist Chase Wright performs Saturday at 11:15 a.m., with electronic music headliner Deadmau5 following at 12:55 p.m. The weekend also marks the third consecutive year of the Vintage Indy partnership, which brings open-wheel cars spanning a century of racing history to the track. Fox Sports will host an on-site World Cup watch party at 2 p.m. Saturday — the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final airs immediately before Sunday’s IndyCar race on Fox.
Nashville Odds: Newgarden 3/1, Palou 4/1, O’Ward 9/2
With seven races remaining in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, DraftKings Sportsbook has made Josef Newgarden the 3/1 favorite for Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Championship leader Alex Palou, who holds four wins and six poles this season, enters second in the odds at 4/1 despite finishing fifth in the most recent race at Mid-Ohio. Pato O’Ward is third at 9/2. David Malukas follows at 5/1, Scott McLaughlin at 10/1, and Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power are tied at 12/1. Kirkwood and Malukas trail Palou by 56 and 66 championship points, respectively.
Sources: Fox Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 404 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 348 pts
3. Christian Lundgaard — 339 pts
4. David Malukas — 338 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 310 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 270 pts
7. Felix Rosenqvist — 265 pts
8. Scott McLaughlin — 262 pts
9. Scott Dixon — 224 pts
10. Marcus Ericsson — 222 pts
11. Rinus VeeKay — 219 pts
12. Marcus Armstrong — 219 pts
13. Graham Rahal — 218 pts
14. Will Power — 209 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 194 pts
16. Alexander Rossi — 190 pts
17. Santino Ferrucci — 179 pts
18. Louis Foster — 159 pts
19. Dennis Hauger — 148 pts
20. Nolan Siegel — 145 pts
21. Christian Rasmussen — 143 pts
22. Romain Grosjean — 139 pts
23. Caio Collet — 132 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 108 pts
25. Mick Schumacher — 108 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Team Penske — 704 pts
2. Chip Ganassi Racing — 685 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 671 pts
4. Andretti Global — 628 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 484 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 410 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 333 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger — 327 pts
9. AJ Foyt Racing — 311 pts
10. Dale Coyne Racing — 287 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports — 5 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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