Chevrolet-powered drivers enter Nashville Superspeedway as the favorites for victory in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Sept. 15, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale. The bowties are a perfect 6-for-6 on oval victories this season, leading a combined 1,137 of 1,460 oval laps.
However, Scott Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda would like a word. Dixon won the final oval event of the 2023 season, at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the six-time series champion has won the last three visits to the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Nashville.
Regardless of engine powering them, the victor is likely to be a heavy hitter of the series.
Among the eight INDYCAR SERIES races at Nashville Superspeedway, the winners combined for seven Indianapolis 500 wins and 14 series championships. Alex Barron is the only winner who didn’t accomplish either feat.
With a talented list of previous Nashville winners that also includes Indy 500 winners and series champions Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, Gil de Ferran and Buddy Lazier, here’s a look at the top drivers to watch for the 206-lap race airing at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC, Peacock, Universo and INDYCAR Radio Network.
Favorites
Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet)
Newgarden’s pair of crashes in both Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s races Aug. 31-Sept. 1 was an aberration for the oval king, who has won 10 of his last 17 oval starts. Two of the 10 circle-track victories have come this season, taking first May 26 in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and Aug. 17 at World Wide Technology Raceway. He’s qualified fourth, second and first, respectively, in the last three ovals.
Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet)
McLaughlin is the top statistical oval driver this season. He’s tied with Newgarden for most oval victories (two), but his 3.5 average finish and 556 oval laps led are best among all drivers. He has qualified first, second, first, first, first and second, respectively, on circle tracks this year.
Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
O’Ward won the opening race of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s weekend on Aug. 31 at Milwaukee Mile. He has four top-six finishes in six oval starts this season, including two runner-up results and the third-most laps led (144). O’Ward also tested twice at Nashville Superspeedway this summer.
Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Dixon has been untouchable at Nashville Superspeedway, with three consecutive victories (2006-08). His 5.5 average finishing position on ovals is second best this season despite leading only 17 laps.
Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet)
His 12.1 average finish on ovals this season isn’t something to boast. But two top-two finishes, including a victory July 14 at Iowa Speedway, on circle tracks show he’s improving. Power was quickest in the Firestone tire test last month and needs a victory Sunday to give himself a chance at a third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. His 240 oval laps led this season are second most in the series.
Sleepers
Alexander Rossi (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
Rossi boasts two oval victories (2016 Indianapolis 500, 2018 Pocono Raceway) in his career and a sixth-best 9.8 average finish on circle tracks this season. He finished seventh and sixth, respectively, on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Milwaukee Mile.
Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet)
Ferrucci is rapidly moving his way toward the front. An NTT P1 Award three races ago at Portland International Raceway and a pair of fourth-place finishes at Milwaukee Mile has Ferrucci ascending. His 7.5 average finishing position on ovals this season is third best in the series.
Rinus VeeKay (No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet)
VeeKay has five top-10 finishes in six oval starts this season. His ninth-place average finishing position is good enough for fourth best in the series.
Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda)
Like O’Ward, Herta tested twice this summer at Nashville and has two fifth-place finishes and a third in his last four oval starts this season.
Conor Daly (No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet)
Daly qualified 12th at World Wide Technology Raceway and finished third in Race 1 at Milwaukee Mile. Daly has flashed plenty of oval speed, and after giving Juncos Hollinger Racing its first podium, how about the first victory?