Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon are set to face off in the opening round of the highly anticipated In-Season Challenge, a new addition to the NASCAR calendar offering a $1 million prize to the champion. This Chase Elliott vs Austin Dillon NASCAR clash will take place this Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, with excitement growing about how their head-to-head contest might unfold.
The In-Season Challenge features a single-elimination format with 32 drivers competing over five races, raising the stakes for everyone on the track. Elliott, who is seeded fifth thanks to strong recent performances—finishing 15th at Michigan, third in Mexico City, and fifth at Pocono—is set to race the 28th-seeded Dillon, who secured his spot by his results in the past three races. The high-stakes event begins with the Quaker State 400 on Saturday evening, and fans are eager to see if the friendly rivalry between the two will become more intense as the race gets underway.
Rivalry Set to Ignite Under the Saturday Night Lights
Elliott and Dillon have a history of mutual respect, but that dynamic could shift on race day with so much at stake. The winner of the In-Season Challenge stands to gain not just the $1 million grand prize, but also major bragging rights in the NASCAR community. Elliott himself is eager for the matchup, explaining that he and Dillon generally get along well, but the atmosphere could change as the competition heats up.
“No, not yet. Austin and I get along pretty good usually. I’m excited about it, though. I think it’ll be something good to talk about throughout the year and throughout the summer… and kind of give people a little something extra to watch after.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
With both drivers waiting to see if any playful banter or trash talk will develop by Saturday, the race promises to become a talking point for fans as the season progresses.
“We haven’t started trash-talking yet, but maybe Saturday. We’ll see how it goes. But I’m looking forward to it. I think the fans will get into it as well,”
he added. —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
The Tournament Format and Broadcast Details
The In-Season Challenge seeds were calculated based on each driver’s finishes in the three most recent events, adding an extra layer of competitiveness to the NASCAR schedule. Elliott’s performance at Pocono, Mexico City, and Michigan allowed him to comfortably secure the fifth seed. The Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway is set for a 7:00 p.m. ET start and will run for 260 laps, providing ample opportunity for tight, high-intensity racing as the field narrows in this elimination tournament.
TNT Sports will provide television coverage for the entire mid-season tournament, ensuring fans catch every development, before NBC and the USA Network take over broadcasting duties when the action moves to Iowa Speedway.
Banter and Friendship Off the Track Among Drivers
Beyond the track, Chase Elliott maintains close relationships with several fellow drivers, including long-time friend Ryan Blaney. At last week’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Pocono Raceway, Elliott and Blaney enjoyed a lighthearted radio exchange as Elliott prepared to pilot the #17 Hendrick Motorsports chevrolet/”>Chevrolet.
“Loud and clear. What an honor and a privilege to hear from you today.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Elliott, who noted his excitement at starting from pole position after a long gap, also reflected on his performance and his HendrickCars Chevrolet’s competitiveness during the race.
“I haven’t had a pole in about 2.5 years, so that was really good and enjoyable. I thought we had a pretty bad HendrickCars Chevy on the race trim, I think. So, looking forward to it.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Although Elliott led the most laps in the race, he finished fourth after a late-race tangle with Justin Allgaier, while teenager Connor Zilisch secured a memorable victory with guidance from substitute crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. Friendships among drivers like Elliott, Blaney, Bubba Wallace, and Daniel Hemric play a significant role in the broader NASCAR community, with Elliott even serving as a groomsman at Blaney’s wedding, which took place in Aspen, Colorado, last December.
As the In-Season Challenge prepares to get underway and the Chase Elliott vs Austin Dillon NASCAR faceoff draws closer, the attention of fans and fellow drivers is firmly fixed on EchoPark Speedway, with passionate anticipation of the drama and highlights that could shape this new tournament for years to come.
