The NASCAR In-Season Challenge started with 32 drivers. Now, just eight remain. The bracket has flipped upside down, big names are out, and unexpected matchups are coming. Next week at Sonoma Raceway, four more will fall. A major twist is building—and it all leads to one million dollars. One underdog continues to climb. A teammate clash is on deck. And one bold move might be remembered for a long time.
Key Highlights
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Ty Dillon advances again as a 32-seed after Brad Keselowski crashes out early at Chicago
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Alex Bowman survives a heated battle with Bubba Wallace to move on
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Ty Gibbs outduels AJ Allmendinger in a road-course showdown
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John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones set up a Legacy Motor Club clash at Sonoma
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Zane Smith upsets Chris Buescher, continuing his run toward the final four
Dillon’s Cinderella Story Continues
No. 32 seed Ty Dillon was counted out from the beginning. Two weeks in, he’s not only still standing—he’s thriving. At EchoPark Speedway, he knocked out Denny Hamlin. At Chicago, he cruised past Brad Keselowski, who exited the race on Lap 3 after being caught in a pileup triggered by Carson Hocevar.
Dillon finished 20th on the day. That was more than enough to move forward. He now faces Alex Bowman, the No. 8 seed, in the Round of 8 at Sonoma Raceway.
“How far Dillon can take this run is anyone’s guess,” one observer noted. “But he’s earned his shot.”
The bracket is busted, and Dillon is the face of the chaos.
Teammates Turn Rivals at Sonoma
The Round of 8 includes a matchup with extra weight: John Hunter Nemechek versus Erik Jones. Both drive for Legacy Motor Club. Both advanced at Chicago—Nemechek by finishing 15th, just ahead of Chase Elliott, and Jones by staying ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who spun and finished 31st.
Now they go head-to-head. Jones has more Cup experience at Sonoma Raceway, averaging a 17.7 finish in 10 races. Nemechek has just one Cup start there, though he has a top-10 finish in Xfinity.
Their head-to-head history leans toward Jones, 30 wins to 25. But the stakes have never been higher.
Bowman-Wallace Battle Sparks Fire
The most dramatic moment of the Chicago Street Race wasn’t the winner. It was the duel between Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace. The two traded moves all day, but with six laps to go, Bowman shoved Wallace out of the way. Wallace spun and finished 28th. Bowman advanced.
It was the second year in a row that the two clashed in Chicago, and once again Bowman got the better of it.
“The tone after the race didn’t sound as chummy as before,” a source noted. “Wallace might be waiting for his chance to return the favor.”
Bowman now turns to face Ty Dillon at Sonoma, but Wallace might not be done just yet.
Gibbs vs. Smith Could Go Either Way
Ty Gibbs has been sharp in the In-Season Challenge. He beat road-course expert AJ Allmendinger by holding position on the final restart and pulling away late. He finished second at Chicago, a sign that he’s settling in at the front of the pack on road courses.
His next challenge is No. 14 seed Zane Smith, a California native. Smith took out No. 3 seed Chris Buescher by finishing 14th to Buescher’s 18th. Smith enters Sonoma as an underdog again—but not by much.
Gibbs’ prior finishes at Sonoma include 18th and 37th, leaving the door open for another shake-up in the bracket.
What’s Next in the Road to $1 Million
The Chicago Street Race may not have impacted the winner’s bracket spot—Shane van Gisbergen isn’t part of the Challenge—but it delivered plenty of bracket-altering drama. Now, attention shifts west to Sonoma Raceway for another road course battle. It’s the final stop before the semifinal round.
Here’s how the bracket looks heading into Round 3:
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(32) Ty Dillon vs. (8) Alex Bowman
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(23) Tyler Reddick vs. (15) Ryan Preece
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(20) Erik Jones vs. (12) John Hunter Nemechek
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(14) Zane Smith vs. (6) Ty Gibbs
Among them, only Bowman and Gibbs were top-10 seeds. The rest? Mid-pack or lower. But all have found ways to win matchups when it counted.
One more twist? Tyler Reddick, the 23-seed, has momentum. He finished third at Chicago, easily beating Carson Hocevar. Last week, he was fourth at EchoPark Speedway. Now he’ll go head-to-head with Ryan Preece, a driver he has a 58–35 record against in career matchups.
Meanwhile, Buescher’s exit left a wide-open path. His control unit failed at Chicago, and his 18th-place finish wasn’t enough to stay alive. That leaves the $1 million prize even more up for grabs.
News in Brief: NASCAR In-Season Challenge Down to Final Eight
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge is down to eight drivers after a wild weekend at the Chicago Street Course. No. 32 seed Ty Dillon continues his underdog run after two straight upsets. The bracket now moves to Sonoma Raceway, where three of the four matchups feature drivers seeded outside the top 10.
Among the most watched battles will be John Hunter Nemechek versus teammate Erik Jones, and Ty Gibbs taking on California’s own Zane Smith. With one road course left before the final four are set, anything can still happen in this high-stakes challenge.
ALSO READ: NASCAR In-Season Challenge: Round 2 Preview and Predictions
Q. Has NASCAR ever been in Chicago?
A. Despite early skepticism, Chicago has become a standout event on the NASCAR calendar, offering a unique experience. “It’s probably my favorite event in NASCAR each year,” said three-time 2025 Cup Series winner Kyle Larson.
Q. Is the NASCAR race in Chicago on TV?
A. The Grant Park 165 will air nationally on TNT, with additional streaming available on MAX, featuring in-car cameras for every driver.
