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. With Round 2 in the books, just eight drivers remain in the quest for $1 million. Continue reading for more information on the challenge, including the format, schedule, bracket and latest updates.
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What 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.
Matchup of the week: Round 5, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(No. 3) Ryan Blaney vs. (No. 25) Todd Gilliland: The Champions Round is set, with one driver ready to put an improbable exclamation point on this year’s In-Season Challenge.
Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney will square off against Front Row Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland, the No. 25 seed who upended No. 4 seed Chase Elliott to advance to the final round of this year’s bracket in the Brickyard 400.
Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion, won just two weeks ago at EchoPark Speedway for his second victory of 2026. Gilliland is still seeking his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
But Indy proves a level playing field for both racers: Blaney has an average finish of 5.0 in two Next Gen starts at Indy while Gilliland’s average finish there is 6.0. To think this is a walk in the park toward $1 million for Blaney would be a critical mistake.
Gilliland’s arrival is an unlikely one, but Blaney will have to fend him off at a track near and dear to team owner Roger Penske’s heart.
Where will the In-Season Challenge take place in 2026?
| DATE | ROUND | LOCATION | TIME | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 28 | Round 1 | Sonoma Raceway | 3:30 p.m. ET | TNT Sports |
| July 5 | Round 2 | Chicagoland Speedway | 6 p.m. ET | TNT Sports |
| July 12 | Round 3 | EchoPark Speedway | 7 p.m. ET | TNT Sports |
| July 19 | Round 4 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | 7 p.m. ET | TNT Sports |
| July 26 | Champions Round | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. ET | TNT Sports |
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: Shane van Gisbergen
Race recap: Van Gisbergen fends off Briscoe, seals weekend sweep with Sonoma win
Notable: For the second consecutive year, the No. 1 seed was eliminated on the opening weekend. Finishing dead last with a mechanical issue that put him four laps down, Tyler Reddick fell victim to an upset, as No. 32 seed Alex Bowman advanced with a 10th-place finish. No. 25 seed Todd Gilliland also pulled an upset over No. 8 Daniel Suárez, creating bedlam in the top-left quadrant of the bracket.
Round 1 recap: Read here.
Round 2: Chicagoland Speedway
Race winner: Chase Briscoe
Race recap: Chase Briscoe holds off late charge from Bell to win Cup Series race at Chicagoland
Notable: We officially have our Cinderella story. No. 32 seed Alex Bowman continued into Round 3 by knocking off No. 16 Austin Cindric with his third top-five finish of the 2026 season. No. 25 seed Todd Gilliland also moved on, utilizing a 16th-place finish to beat No. 9 seed Carson Hocevar. With Briscoe’s race win, No. 5 seed Ty Gibbs suffered his first-ever In-Season Challenge loss after winning the tournament last year. No. 6 seed Kyle Larson went for a Stage 2 spin and never recovered, losing to No. 11 seed William Byron, who finished fourth.
Round 2 recap: Read here.
Round 3: EchoPark Speedway
Race winner: Ryan Blaney
Race recap: Ryan Blaney wins Cup Series overtime thriller at EchoPark
Notable: Cinderella no more for No. 32 seed Alex Bowman, who fell to elimination with a 22nd-place finish Sunday at EchoPark. But have no fear — No. 25 seed Todd Gilliland was the one who beat him and heads to the semifinals, for those still pulling for an underdog. No. 12 seed Chase Briscoe crashed late at EchoPark and finished 36th, handing an easy victory to No. 4 seed Chase Elliott. No. 10 Christopher Bell knocked out Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and No. 2 seed Denny Hamlin, and of course, No. 3 seed Ryan Blaney advanced over No. 11 William Byron with his late-night victory.
Round 3 recap: Read here.
Round 4: North Wilkesboro Speedway
Race winner: Joey Logano
Race recap: Joey Logano dominates to win first North Wilkesboro points race in 30 years
Notable: The Toddfather is moving on. No. 25 seed Todd Gilliland pulled off the upset to advance to the In-Season Challenge finals over No. 4 Chase Elliott, courtesy of an eighth-place finish at North Wilkesboro while Elliott finished 17th. Gilliland will face off against No. 3 Ryan Blaney for the $1 million prize at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Blaney advanced with an 11th-place finish at Wilkesboro, defeating No. 10 Christopher Bell, who finished 19th.
Round 4 recap: Read here.
Champions Round: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race winner:
Race recap:
Champions Round recap: