Everything You Need to Know: Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to oval racing this weekend for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway, where a stacked championship battle, a home-state favorite and one of the biggest television audiences of the season headline Sunday’s race.

The event marks Round 12 of the 2026 INDYCAR season and will air immediately following FOX’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Final, giving the series one of its largest potential television audiences in recent memory.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Saturday, July 18

Practice 1: 10 a.m. (FS1)
Qualifying: 3 p.m. (FOX)
High-Line Practice: 6 p.m. (FS2)
Final Practice: 7 p.m. (FS2)

Sunday, July 19

Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix
Green Flag: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: INDYCAR Radio Network / SiriusXM Channel 218

Race Favorites

Josef Newgarden

If there’s one driver circled by nearly everyone entering the weekend, it’s Josef Newgarden.

The Tennessee native returns to his home track looking to continue his dominance on ovals. Through the first three oval races of the 2026 season, Newgarden has won two, once again proving why he’s regarded as one of the greatest oval racers of his generation.

Few drivers understand how to manage tire wear, dirty air and late-race restarts better than the Team Penske veteran, making him an obvious favorite on the 1.33-mile concrete oval.

A Nashville victory in front of the home crowd would only add to an already impressive résumé.

Alex Palou

Until someone dethrones him, Alex Palou remains the championship favorite.

The Chip Ganassi Racing star has once again set the standard for consistency, combining race-winning speed with mistake-free execution nearly every weekend. Even when he doesn’t have the fastest car, Palou almost always leaves with a strong points day.

Last season’s Nashville race showcased exactly that.

Palou battled Pato O’Ward throughout the closing laps before ultimately settling for second after one of the best finishes of the season. Expect him to once again be in contention Sunday afternoon.

Pato O’Ward

Momentum belongs to Pato O’Ward.

The Arrow McLaren star enters Nashville fresh off his victory at Mid-Ohio, giving him back-to-back confidence heading into one of his favorite tracks on the schedule.

O’Ward also won last year’s Music City Grand Prix after an unforgettable duel with Palou, proving he knows exactly what it takes to win at Nashville Superspeedway.

If Sunday’s race comes down to a late restart, don’t be surprised if O’Ward is once again fighting for the checkered flag.

Keep an Eye on David Malukas

One of the biggest storylines entering the weekend belongs to David Malukas.

Now driving for Team Penske, Malukas continues searching for the first INDYCAR victory of his career. The speed has been there throughout the season, but a breakthrough win has remained just out of reach.

Given Penske’s history on ovals and Nashville’s tendency to reward aggressive racing, this weekend could present one of Malukas’ best opportunities yet to finally break through.

Oval Racing Returns

Oval racing has already produced plenty of excitement in 2026.

Newgarden has claimed two victories, while Felix Rosenqvist earned the other oval win this season at the Indy 500, setting the stage for another fast, high-intensity race in Tennessee.

Nashville Superspeedway has quickly established itself as one of INDYCAR’s premier oval venues, combining multiple racing grooves with long green-flag runs and dramatic late-race strategy.

What to Watch

Between the World Cup lead-in audience, a championship battle featuring Palou, Newgarden racing in front of his home fans, O’Ward looking to stay hot after his Mid-Ohio victory and Malukas chasing his elusive first career win, Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix has all the ingredients for one of the biggest races of the INDYCAR season.

If recent oval races are any indication, fans should expect plenty of side-by-side racing, strategy calls and a dramatic finish under the Tennessee twilight sky.

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