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NASCAR’s newest summer competition is back for a second season, bringing a March Madness-style bracket to the Cup Series schedule and giving drivers another major prize to chase.
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge officially begins at Sonoma Raceway with 32 drivers competing in head-to-head matchups over five consecutive race weekends. While every race still counts toward the Cup Series championship, drivers will also be battling to survive and advance through a single-elimination bracket for a $1 million payday.
If you’re wondering how the tournament works, why it was created, and what happens after Sonoma, here’s everything you need to know.
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge is a five-race, single-elimination tournament featuring the top 32 eligible drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
Before the opening round, drivers are seeded No. 1 through No. 32 based on the Cup Series points standings. Every driver is paired against one opponent, creating 16 head-to-head matchups.
Unlike a traditional race, drivers are not competing against the entire field when it comes to the tournament. They simply have to finish ahead of the driver they’re matched against.
For example, a driver who finishes 18th could still advance if his opponent finishes 24th.
The losing driver is eliminated from the tournament, while the winner moves on to the next round.
How does the bracket work?
The tournament follows a traditional single-elimination bracket over five races.
Sonoma Raceway
Chicagoland Speedway
EchoPark Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The field is cut in half after each race until only two drivers remain for the championship matchup at Indianapolis.
Whoever finishes ahead of the other finalist during the Brickyard weekend wins the In-Season Challenge.
Yes.
The In-Season Challenge does not replace the NASCAR Cup Series championship or alter how championship points are awarded.
Drivers continue earning stage points, race points and playoff points exactly as they would during any other Cup Series event. The bracket tournament simply runs alongside the regular season, giving fans another storyline to follow throughout the summer.
That means every lap carries added importance. Drivers are chasing both championship points and advancement in the bracket at the same time.
The winner of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge receives $1 million.
Because advancement depends only on beating one opponent each week, every driver in the field has an opportunity to make a deep run regardless of where they rank in the overall championship standings.
Upsets are also part of the appeal, as a lower-seeded driver can eliminate a championship contender with one strong finish.
NASCAR introduced the In-Season Challenge to create additional excitement during the middle portion of the Cup Series season.
The head-to-head format gives fans an easy bracket to follow while creating meaningful battles throughout the field, even for drivers who may not be leading the championship standings.
Instead of focusing solely on the race winner each week, fans can follow 16 individual matchups as the bracket narrows toward a champion.
With $1 million on the line and only one driver left standing after five races, the tournament has quickly become one of the Cup Series’ most unique additions.
Ty Gibbs captured the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge championship in 2025.
Gibbs navigated all five rounds of the bracket to claim the $1 million prize, proving that consistent finishes against individual opponents can be just as important as competing for race wins during the summer tournament.
As the second edition begins at Sonoma Raceway, another 32-driver field will try to follow the same path to the championship.
Continue reading...
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge officially begins at Sonoma Raceway with 32 drivers competing in head-to-head matchups over five consecutive race weekends. While every race still counts toward the Cup Series championship, drivers will also be battling to survive and advance through a single-elimination bracket for a $1 million payday.
If you’re wondering how the tournament works, why it was created, and what happens after Sonoma, here’s everything you need to know.
What is the NASCAR In-Season Challenge?
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge is a five-race, single-elimination tournament featuring the top 32 eligible drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
Before the opening round, drivers are seeded No. 1 through No. 32 based on the Cup Series points standings. Every driver is paired against one opponent, creating 16 head-to-head matchups.
Unlike a traditional race, drivers are not competing against the entire field when it comes to the tournament. They simply have to finish ahead of the driver they’re matched against.
For example, a driver who finishes 18th could still advance if his opponent finishes 24th.
The losing driver is eliminated from the tournament, while the winner moves on to the next round.
How does the bracket work?
The tournament follows a traditional single-elimination bracket over five races.
Round of 32
Sonoma Raceway
Round of 16
Chicagoland Speedway
Quarterfinals
EchoPark Speedway
Semifinals
North Wilkesboro Speedway
Championship
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The field is cut in half after each race until only two drivers remain for the championship matchup at Indianapolis.
Whoever finishes ahead of the other finalist during the Brickyard weekend wins the In-Season Challenge.
Do the races still count toward the NASCAR championship?
Yes.
The In-Season Challenge does not replace the NASCAR Cup Series championship or alter how championship points are awarded.
Drivers continue earning stage points, race points and playoff points exactly as they would during any other Cup Series event. The bracket tournament simply runs alongside the regular season, giving fans another storyline to follow throughout the summer.
That means every lap carries added importance. Drivers are chasing both championship points and advancement in the bracket at the same time.
How much money does the winner receive?
The winner of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge receives $1 million.
Because advancement depends only on beating one opponent each week, every driver in the field has an opportunity to make a deep run regardless of where they rank in the overall championship standings.
Upsets are also part of the appeal, as a lower-seeded driver can eliminate a championship contender with one strong finish.
Why did NASCAR create the In-Season Challenge?
NASCAR introduced the In-Season Challenge to create additional excitement during the middle portion of the Cup Series season.
The head-to-head format gives fans an easy bracket to follow while creating meaningful battles throughout the field, even for drivers who may not be leading the championship standings.
Instead of focusing solely on the race winner each week, fans can follow 16 individual matchups as the bracket narrows toward a champion.
With $1 million on the line and only one driver left standing after five races, the tournament has quickly become one of the Cup Series’ most unique additions.
Who won the first NASCAR In-Season Challenge?
Ty Gibbs captured the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge championship in 2025.
Gibbs navigated all five rounds of the bracket to claim the $1 million prize, proving that consistent finishes against individual opponents can be just as important as competing for race wins during the summer tournament.
As the second edition begins at Sonoma Raceway, another 32-driver field will try to follow the same path to the championship.
Continue reading...
