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Todd Gilliland left Indianapolis Motor Speedway with far more than a 24th-place finish.
The Front Row Motorsports driver defeated Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in the championship matchup of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge on Sunday, earning a $1 million payday despite never leading a lap in the Brickyard 400.
Gilliland entered the five-week tournament as the No. 25 seed and steadily knocked off higher-seeded opponents to reach the final. His reward came after finishing 24th at Indianapolis, two positions ahead of Blaney, who crossed the line 26th after battling back from mid-race damage.
The In-Season Challenge featured a 32-driver bracket that rewarded the better finisher each week rather than outright race victories.
Gilliland embraced that format better than anyone.
After upsetting Chase Elliott in last week’s semifinal round at North Wilkesboro, Gilliland entered Sunday’s finale needing only to finish ahead of Blaney. While Blaney spent much of the afternoon running near the front, his race changed after contact with John Hunter Nemechek around Lap 120 forced the No. 12 team to pit for repairs.
Blaney returned to the track but never fully recovered.
Gilliland also faded during the closing laps after running as high as 15th, yet he maintained just enough of a cushion to stay ahead of Blaney when the checkered flag flew. The final margin was two positions, giving Gilliland the tournament title and the seven-figure prize.
While Corey Heim celebrated a breakthrough Brickyard 400 victory for 23XI Racing, Gilliland quietly accomplished one of the biggest financial wins of the season.
The Front Row Motorsports driver became the first champion of NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge, taking home $1 million and adding another milestone to a season that has included several strong performances against the Cup Series’ biggest names.
For Gilliland, Indianapolis delivered a career-defining afternoon even without a trip to Victory Lane.
Continue reading...
The Front Row Motorsports driver defeated Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in the championship matchup of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge on Sunday, earning a $1 million payday despite never leading a lap in the Brickyard 400.
Gilliland entered the five-week tournament as the No. 25 seed and steadily knocked off higher-seeded opponents to reach the final. His reward came after finishing 24th at Indianapolis, two positions ahead of Blaney, who crossed the line 26th after battling back from mid-race damage.
Todd Gilliland completes Cinderella run through NASCAR’s bracket
The In-Season Challenge featured a 32-driver bracket that rewarded the better finisher each week rather than outright race victories.
Gilliland embraced that format better than anyone.
After upsetting Chase Elliott in last week’s semifinal round at North Wilkesboro, Gilliland entered Sunday’s finale needing only to finish ahead of Blaney. While Blaney spent much of the afternoon running near the front, his race changed after contact with John Hunter Nemechek around Lap 120 forced the No. 12 team to pit for repairs.
Blaney returned to the track but never fully recovered.
Gilliland also faded during the closing laps after running as high as 15th, yet he maintained just enough of a cushion to stay ahead of Blaney when the checkered flag flew. The final margin was two positions, giving Gilliland the tournament title and the seven-figure prize.
Indianapolis produces two very different winners
While Corey Heim celebrated a breakthrough Brickyard 400 victory for 23XI Racing, Gilliland quietly accomplished one of the biggest financial wins of the season.
The Front Row Motorsports driver became the first champion of NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge, taking home $1 million and adding another milestone to a season that has included several strong performances against the Cup Series’ biggest names.
For Gilliland, Indianapolis delivered a career-defining afternoon even without a trip to Victory Lane.
Continue reading...
