The NASCAR Cup Series' In-Season Challenge returns for its second season in 2026, bringing a five-race, bracket-style tournament to TNT Sports' portion of the summer schedule.
Thirty-two drivers qualify for the challenge and compete in head-to-head matchups over five consecutive races, culminating with the Champions Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26. Continue reading for more information on the challenge, including the format, schedule, bracket and latest updates.
The Bracket
Tap to expandWhat is the In-Season Challenge?
The In-Season Challenge is a 32-driver, single-elimination tournament contested during the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Drivers are seeded based on their points position entering the challenge and compete head-to-head across five races. The higher finisher in each matchup advances to the next round until a champion is crowned at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
How are drivers seeded?
Simply put, the drivers were seeded in order of their points position following the race at Pocono Raceway.
How do drivers advance?
The driver with the better finishing position in each head-to-head matchup advances to the next round.
The tournament field is cut from 32 drivers to 16, then eight, four and two before the championship matchup at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
How do the seeds break down?
Buy stock in: Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, No. 45 Toyota Seed: 1 Comment: There have been no weaknesses in Reddick’s game in 2026, leading the regular-season championship battle since hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy in February at Daytona International Speedway. The five-time victor this year has proven to excel at all types of race tracks, with the lone exception being short tracks, and even that has improved from prior years. The No. 45 team feels like a near lock for at least the semifinals. Dark horse: Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports, No. 38 Ford Seed: 24 Comment: Smith grew up racing karts and has a competitor in Carson Hocevar (road courses aren’t his specialty) in the opening round. The No. 38 team hasn’t seen the deserved results in recent weeks, wrecking out at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono while competing inside the top 10. With either Daniel Suárez or Front Row teammate Todd Gilliland waiting in the wings at Chicagoland, Smith is a real sleeper to advance to Round 3.How can I fill out a bracket?
The NASCAR Cup Series 2026 In-Season Bracket Challenge is open for registration, giving you the opportunity to compete against other fans for the chance at prizes. You can create your own In-Season Bracket Challenge league, so gather a group of bracket aficionados and see if you can be the best in your pool. Entrants will earn points for each correct pick in their bracket entry. For Round 1, 10 points will be awarded for each correct pick. In Round 2, 20 points will be awarded, with 40 and 80 points following in Rounds 3 and 4, respectively. A correct pick in the final round is worth 160 points. Oh, and prizes will be awarded to the top three eligible entrants who score the most points. The top prize winner will receive $10,000, while the second- and third-place winners will receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. If you can correctly predict the outcome of every single matchup and fill out a perfect bracket, you win $1 million.Where will the In-Season Challenge take place in 2026?
[table id=734 /] The five-race challenge features a variety of track types, including road courses, intermediate tracks, a short track and a crown-jewel event to crown the champion.Race recaps and results
Come back throughout the In-Season Challenge to catch up on each race.Round 1: Sonoma Raceway
Race winner: Recap:
Round 2: Chicagoland Speedway
Race winner: Recap:
Round 3: EchoPark Speedway
Race winner: Recap:
Round 4: North Wilkesboro Speedway
Race winner: Recap:
Champions Round: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race winner: Recap: