The 16 matchups are set for the 2025 In-Season Challenge, debuting Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway (7 p.m. ET, TNT Sports/truTV, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
With seeding set based on best finishes over the last three weeks at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono, a handful of matchups have caught our eye and will be head-to-head duels to lock in on when the green flag waves in Atlanta. Get a breakdown of some of the best before the 32-man tournament kicks off.
RELATED: In-Season Challenge seedings | Hub page with bracket
(16) KYLE BUSCH vs. (17) BRAD KESELOWSKI
A true test of NASCAR’s version of “blue bloods” in the opening round. However, these past champions have struggled mightily in 2025 — each still seeking their first win of the year.
Over the years, Busch and Keselowski have both shown their prowess at drafting-style tracks. Busch won at Talladega in 2023, while Keselowski had a pair of top 10s in the Peach State in 2023. However, neither has yet to crack the code since Atlanta’s reconfiguration, but expect these two to be dicing it up out front in Saturday’s 400 miler.
(10) KYLE LARSON vs. (23) TYLER REDDICK
While Larson and Reddick haven’t been in the Cup Series long enough to be established “blue bloods”, they are two superstars at the top level, and this is a surprising elite matchup to open the In-Season Challenge. It has the feel of a first-weekend pairing in college basketball’s NCAA Tournament, where a recent champion goes up against the hottest team currently (Florida/UConn, anyone?).
However, this matchup may come down to who survives attrition rather than one of them battling for the victory. Yes, Larson was third at Atlanta in the spring and nearly won the race, but didn’t have a top 10 on the reconfiguration prior to that. Reddick owns just two top 10s at Atlanta since 2022 and has four finishes of 27th or worse in four of the last seven races at the 1.5-mile oval.
(9) BUBBA WALLACE vs. (24) DANIEL SUÁREZ
Two fan favorites in the Cup Series paired up will bring some of the most buzz to any matchup. This is similar to those beloved small basketball programs the public loves to root on for a deep run in March. However, one of them will see their $1 million hopes end quickly, and this could be a thriller.
While Daytona and Talladega have been fruitful for the No. 23 23XI Racing driver, Wallace has yet to find good fortune in Atlanta with just one top-five finish since the reconfiguration. On the other hand, Suárez has been elite at Atlanta. On top of his highlight win in the spring of 2024, Suárez has finishes of sixth or better in five of the seven races run since 2022.
(3) CHRIS BUESCHER vs. (30) TODD GILLILAND
If you love upsets, this should be the one circled on your bracket. It may not be the standout matchup of the first round, but with the tracks in the five-race tourney, both Buescher and Gilliland could make deep runs.
Gilliland had a breakout moment in the 2024 Atlanta spring race, leading 58 laps before getting caught up in late-race incidents. Buescher has also been a superspeedway supernova, but Atlanta has been tough for the No. 17 RFK Racing driver with three DNFs in the seven events since 2022.
(7) RYAN BLANEY vs. (26) CARSON HOCEVAR
This matchup is almost guaranteed to produce the most fireworks. Already entering Atlanta with on-track drama, Hocevar also had a run-in with Blaney in February at the track.
On paper, Blaney will be the clear favorite, as he has been the best since the reconfiguration, with six top 10s in the seven races (an average finish of 6.7). However, Hocevar was runner-up at Atlanta in the spring and will be no stranger to speed as he still seeks to crack the postseason with his first career victory.
OTHER MATCHUPS TO WATCH: (4) Christopher Bell vs. (29) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., (8) Alex Bowman vs. (25) Joey Logano, (11) Michael McDowell vs. (22) AJ Allmendinger