The NASCAR In-Season Challenge returns this weekend for its second edition, after the first – and its $1m prize – was won by Ty Gibbs last year.
The five-race tournament, which was introduced to add a little drama to the mid-season before the Chase spots are decided, will culminate in one of 32 drivers winning $1m at the Brickyard 400 next month.
But how does it all work? Don’t worry, we’ve got it all covered below.
READ MORE: Five matchups to watch in the first round of NASCAR's In-Season Challenge at Sonoma
NASCAR In-Season Challenge explained
NASCAR's In-Season Challenge is a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament that will take place over five races on the 2026 regular season schedule, all of which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.
32 Cup Series drivers are set to compete in the challenge, with the field locked in after the regular season race at Pocono – and unlike last year, the bracket has been set simply by the points standings, rather than a three-race run-in. The three drivers outside the top 32 on points (Cole Custer, Connor Zilisch, and Cody Ware) did not qualify.
NASCAR chose not to start the Challenge last week at San Diego, instead waiting a week after confirming the bracket, on the basis that the unique naval base street race had enough going on without throwing In-Season Challenge implications at it too.
With those seedings set, drivers have been placed in head-to-head matchups, with whoever achieves the better finishing position in the matchup advancing to the next round. The losing driver in a matchup will be eliminated. Simple.
This means that after each In-Season Challenge race, the field will be halved, with winners advancing and losers being eliminated. For example, 32 drivers are set to compete in round one, 16 in round two, eight in round three, four in round four, before two drivers battle it out in the fifth and final race, the champions round.
NASCAR's In-Season Challenge will be determined by results in regular Cup Series races and is therefore not a standalone event. However, there are no regular season or Chase implications depending on whether or not you win or lose in the In-Season Challenge.
In-Season Challenge first round matchups
As the bracket is not re-seeded after each round, every driver's path is relatively clear. For example, if Tyler Reddick beats Alex Bowman in the 1 vs 32 matchup at Sonoma, he will face the winner of the 16 vs 17 matchup (Austin Cindric vs Brad Keselowski) at Chicagoland.
| Driver (Seed) | vs. | Driver (Seed) |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Reddick (#1) | vs. | Alex Bowman (#32) |
| Austin Cindric (#16) | vs. | Brad Keselowski (#17) |
| Daniel Suárez (#8) | vs. | Todd Gilliland (#25) |
| Carson Hocevar (#9) | vs. | Zane Smith (#24) |
| Chase Briscoe (#12) | vs. | A.J. Allmendinger (#21) |
| Ty Gibbs (#5) | vs. | Austin Dillon (#28) |
| Bubba Wallace (#13) | vs. | Michael McDowell (#20) |
| Chase Elliott (#4) | vs. | Noah Gragson (#29) |
| Denny Hamlin (#2) | vs. | Ty Dillon (#31) |
| Erik Jones (#15) | vs. | Joey Logano (#18) |
| Chris Buescher (#7) | vs. | John Hunter Nemechek (#26) |
| Christopher Bell (#10) | vs. | Ross Chastain (#23) |
| William Byron (#11) | vs. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#22) |
| Kyle Larson (#6) | vs. | Riley Herbst (#27) |
| Shane van Gisbergen (#14) | vs. | Ryan Preece (#19) |
| Ryan Blaney (#3) | vs. | Josh Berry (#30) |
Dates and races
This year, those five races are set to take place at the following tracks:
- June 28, 2026 — Sonoma Raceway
- July 5, 2026 — Chicagoland Speedway
- July 12, 2026 — EchoPark Speedway
- July 19, 2026 — North Wilkesboro Speedway
- July 26, 2026 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway
NASCAR In-Season Challenge FAQ’s
Who won the 2025 In-Season Challenge?
The inaugural In-Season Challenge was won by Joe Gibbs Racing star Ty Gibbs, defeating Ty Dillon in the Champions Round.
What is the prize money for the In-Season Challenge?
The winning driver receives a cheque for $1 million.
When does the In-Season Challenge start?
The 2026 In-Season Challenge will begin on June 28 at Sonoma Raceway and conclude at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26.
Who qualifies for the In-Season Challenge?
The top 32 drivers in the regular season standings based on points after the June 14 race at Pocono qualified for this year's edition.
What TV network is the In-Season challenge on?
All five In-Season Challenge races will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.
Where is the final of the In-Season Challenge?
The final - or Champions Round - of the In-Season Challenge will once again take place at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2026.
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