For the fourth time, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is heading to the Brickyard.
NASCAR released the preliminary entry list for the July 25 Lilly Diabetes 250 earlier today (July 21). The list includes 39 drivers, meaning that each team will make Saturday’s race.
After winning last week’s race at New Hampshire, Denny Hamlin will sit out of the NXS race at Indianapolis. In his place, Erik Jones will pilot the No. 20 Gamestop Toyota. Jones will be joined by Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez to complete the Joe Gibbs Racing stable.
Kevin Harvick will make his return to JR Motorsports, driving the No. 88 Morton Buildings Chevrolet. Harvick, the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, is the only JRM driver to make his way to victory lane in 2015, scoring victories at Atlanta and Fontana.
Paul Menard and Kyle Larson will also come down from the NSCS to drive Chevrolets in Saturday’s race. Menard will pilot the No. 33 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, while Larson will hop behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet for HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi.
Ryan Blaney will start in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford for Team Penske. The team won the first NXS race at Indianapolis in 2012 with driver Brad Keselowski.
Aric Almirola will return to the series, driving the No. 98 Treasury Wine Estates Ford for Biagi-Denbeste Racing.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series will return to action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, July 24, for two practice sessions. The field will return on Saturday for Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 11:35 a.m. ET. Coverage for the Lilly Diabetes 250 will begin on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
2015 LILLY DIABETES 250 ENTRY LIST
| Car# | Driver | Sponsor | Manu | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Harrison Rhodes | teamjdmotorsports.com | 15 Chevy | Andrea Nemechek |
| 1 | Landon Cassill | Flex Seal | 15 Chevy | Johnny Davis |
| 1 | Elliott Sadler | OneMain Financial | 15 Ford | Jack Roush |
| 2 | Brian Scott | Shore Lodge | 15 Chevy | Richard Childress |
| 3 | Ty Dillon | Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats | 15 Chevy | Richard Childress |
| 4 | Ross Chastain | Watermelon.org | 15 Chevy | Gary Keller |
| 6 | Darrell Wallace Jr | Ford EcoBoost | 15 Ford | Jack Roush |
| 7 | Regan Smith | AmericasPower.org | 15 Chevy | Kelley Earnhardt-Miller |
| 8 | Blake Koch | LeafFilter Gutter Protection | 15 Toyota | Mark Smith |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | NAPA Auto Parts | 15 Chevy | Dale Earnhardt Jr |
| 13 | Derek White | Braille Battery / Grafoid | 15 Dodge | Derek White |
| 14 | Cale Conley | IAVA | 15 Toyota | Mark Smith |
| 15 | B J McLeod(i) | 15 Chevy | Rick Ware | |
| 16 | Ryan Reed | Lilly/American Diabetes Association | 15 Ford | Jack Roush |
| 18 | Daniel Suarez | ARRIS | 15 Toyota | Joe Gibbs |
| 19 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports | 15 Toyota | Mark Smith |
| 20 | Erik Jones(i) | Game Stop | 15 Toyota | Joe Gibbs |
| 22 | Ryan Blaney | Discount Tire | 15 Ford | Roger Penske |
| 24 | Eric McClure | Reynolds Wrap | 15 Toyota | Mark Smith |
| 25 | John Wes Townley(i) | Zaxby's | 15 Chevy | Tony Townley |
| 26 | Timmy Hill(i) | JGL Racing | 15 Toyota | James Whitener |
| 28 | J J Yeley | JGL Racing | 15 Toyota | Gregg Mixon |
| 33 | Paul Menard(i) | Richmond / Menards | 15 Chevy | Richard Childress |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | Uncle Bobs Storage | 14 Chevy | Rod Sieg |
| 40 | Carl Long | Braille Battery / Grafoid | 15 Dodge | Derek White |
| 42 | Kyle Larson(i) | 15 Chevy | Harry Scott Jr | |
| 43 | Dakoda Armstrong | WinField | 15 Ford | Richard Petty |
| 44 | David Starr | Zachry/Build Your Future | 15 Toyota | Mark Smith |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Allsouthelectric.com-RepairableVehicles.com | 15 Chevy | Tony Clements |
| 52 | Joey Gase | 15 Chevy | Jimmy Means | |
| 54 | Kyle Busch(i) | Monster Energy | 15 Toyota | J D Gibbs |
| 60 | Chris Buescher | Zest | 15 Ford | Jack Roush |
| 62 | Brendan Gaughan | South Point | 15 Chevy | Richard Childress |
| 70 | Derrike Cope | 15 Chevy | Mary Louise Miller | |
| 88 | Kevin Harvick(i) | Morton Buildings | 15 Chevy | Rick Hendrick |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd | 15 Chevy | Morgan Shepherd | |
| 90 | Martin Roy | Gamache Truck Center | 15 Chevy | Michelle Gosselin |
| 97 | Peyton Sellers | VroomBrands | 15 Chevy | Victor Obaika |
| 98 | Aric Almirola(i) | Treasury Wine Estates | 15 Ford | Fred Biagi |
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.