Joey Logano targets redemption in NASCAR In-Season Challenge after narrowly missing out on the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race prize, with his focus now set on the sport’s new mid-season bracket event. As Team Penske’s experienced driver, Logano is seeking to convert past disappointment into success and earn a seven-figure payday in this groundbreaking tournament.
Logano’s Motivation Fueled by All-Star Setback
After coming up short at the All-Star Race earlier this season, where Christopher Bell overtook him in the closing laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway and collected the coveted prize, Logano remains determined to claim his own victory. Despite leading 139 laps in that contest, the final moments saw Bell surge from sixth to first, bumping Logano aside and securing the win and $1 million payout—an outcome Logano admits has stayed with him.
This latest In-Season Challenge offers Logano a clear avenue for redemption, and he’s made his competitive intent unmistakable:
“With this in-season tournament, there’s a million bucks on the line. That’s plenty for me to go to work. I don’t need more. Like, I get it, you see how upset I was at the All-Star race. Like, it’s the same number. So I’m going to be in here,”
Logano said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. —Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
How NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge Unfolds
NASCAR’s newest mid-season tournament brings a single-elimination bracket to the Cup Series, showcasing the top 32 drivers in points after the June 30 race in Nashville. Seeding for the bracket is based on each driver’s best finish across three pivotal races: Michigan on June 8, Mexico City on June 16, and Pocono on June 22. This format ensures that every lap in those races carries weight as drivers position themselves for the head-to-head battles ahead.
The bracketed competition begins at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta on June 29, with TNT broadcasting and Max streaming the action. The first round sees drivers paired in direct matchups, with winners advancing through four more tracks: Chicago (July 6), Sonoma (July 14), Dover (July 20), and ultimately leading to a winner-take-all final at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27. The last two remaining drivers vie for the $1 million prize in Indianapolis, adding extra pressure and prestige to an already competitive Cup Series season.
Logano welcomes the fresh energy the In-Season Challenge brings to the schedule:
“I’m excited about (it), I think it’s something great. It gives us something to talk about this point of the year, outside of just the teams that are trying to make the playoffs, the guys that are already in the playoffs… I think it’s a great idea, something I’m excited to see how it plays out,”
Logano added. —Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
He has also voiced hopes for this format to become an annual highlight within the regular season, helping to engage fans and drivers during a part of the year that rarely sees high-stakes competition outside of the push for the playoffs.
Chasing Momentum and a Better Seed at Pocono
As the final race to determine In-Season Challenge seeding approaches, Logano finds himself in the 27th spot after underwhelming finishes outside the top 20 at both Michigan and Mexico City. This puts him in line for a challenging first-round meeting with Chase Elliott. However, his April win in Texas has already guaranteed his spot in the playoffs, offering some comfort and allowing Logano to prioritize success in the In-Season Challenge without points distractions.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin leads the seeding despite missing the Mexico City race for a family commitment, with Chris Buescher and Christopher Bell filling the next spots. With just Pocono left to shape the bracket, Logano has one more opportunity to climb the rankings ahead of the knockout tournament.
Pocono Raceway, with its unique 2.5-mile triangular layout, presents its own set of difficulties, and Logano has experienced mixed results over his 29 starts at the venue. He addressed the complexity of the track during a recent ESPN interview:
“Pocono hasn’t been one of our strongest tracks at the moment. I feel like last year we finished fifth here, which is not too bad. But, it’s a challenging track. It’s actually shaped as a triangle. So it’s not an oval like we typically race on… It’s a two and a half mile triangle. Every corner is a lot different. So, trying (to) set up the car to be good in every corner, it’s kind of hard to do.”
(2:45 onwards) —Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
With a single victory at Pocono in his career, Logano will be looking to capitalize on this final seeding race. The opening green flag at Pocono for The Great American Gateway 400 is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on June 22, setting the stage for what could be a decisive moment in his pursuit of redemption and the $1 million prize.
The Stakes and What Comes Next for Logano and the Cup Field
The introduction of the In-Season Challenge has added a dynamic element to the NASCAR calendar, giving drivers and fans new reasons to invest in every stage of the regular season. For Joey Logano, the renewed push stems not only from the financial reward but from the chance to turn recent frustration into triumph. As the Cup field braces for head-to-head brackets, names like Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Chris Buescher are sure to be central figures alongside Logano, each eyeing the path to Indianapolis and the ultimate payday.
With Team Penske, ESPN’s coverage support, and the event’s fresh single-elimination format, the coming weeks promise high-caliber competition and the possibility of redemption for Joey Logano. As the racing world turns its eyes to Atlanta and beyond, the impact of this new tournament will likely ripple through strategies, rivalries, and the sport’s appeal, reshaping midseason NASCAR for drivers and fans alike.
