Ty Dillon needed everything to fall his way—and at Dover, it did. A last-minute free pass, a razor-thin finishing margin, and a shocking semifinal upset put the No. 32 seed into the championship round of the 2025 NASCAR In-Season Challenge. Joining him? Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs, who kept his season turnaround alive with a late-race charge. Together, these two drivers now head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway with $1 million on the line and a strange mix of momentum, chaos, and controversy behind them.
Key Highlights
Ty Dillon received the free pass ahead of the final restart and advanced by finishing 20th.
John Hunter Nemechek missed the finals by one spot, finishing 21st at Dover.
Ty Gibbs outlasted Tyler Reddick in a top-10 battle to advance.
Denny Hamlin won the race but was already eliminated in Round 1 by Dillon.
Fans are already joking about chaos in the final, hoping for wild or bizarre endings.
Ty Dillon’s Wild Ride to the Finals
Ty Dillon’s journey through the In-Season Challenge has been nothing short of unbelievable. Entering the tournament as the No. 32 seed, he has now outlasted every single competitor and is 160 laps away from a potential $1 million prize. The latest chapter of his run came in the form of a dramatic twist at Dover Motor Speedway, where a late-race caution handed him the free pass ahead of the final overtime restart. That decision moved Dillon back onto the lead lap—and set up a frantic scramble to finish ahead of John Hunter Nemechek.
Dillon crossed the line in 20th. Nemechek came home 21st, the first car one lap down. Just like that, Dillon advanced to the final round.
The Kaulig Racing driver’s path has included smart positioning, timely cautions, and survival—traits that echoed how Denny Hamlin, ironically, could’ve been in this final if fate had flipped a few finishing spots. Hamlin, the tournament’s top seed, was eliminated in the first round at EchoPark Speedway—by Dillon himself.
It all comes down to @IMS. pic.twitter.com/23Lst0shZw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 21, 2025
Ty Gibbs Keeps Rolling, Tyler Reddick Falls Short
Ty Gibbs’ push into the In-Season Challenge final has mirrored the momentum he’s building in the overall season. At Dover, he edged out Tyler Reddick in a tightly matched semifinal that saw both drivers run inside the top 10 for much of the day. After a red flag for rain at Lap 388, both drivers pitted for fresh tires. Reddick won the battle off pit road, but Gibbs took advantage of the two ensuing overtime restarts to finish fifth, while Reddick slipped to 12th.
It was a frustrating end for Reddick, who had pieced together a solid Challenge run after lackluster seeding results. He never finished worse than sixth in the first three rounds, but the timing and track position broke in Gibbs’ favor at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, Gibbs continues to climb. Since the Challenge began seven weeks ago, he hasn’t finished worse than 14th and has jumped from 27th to 16th in the championship standings. With help from JGR’s Chris Gabehart and crew chief Tyler Allen, the 22-year-old is chasing his first Cup Series win—and now an extra payday.
John Hunter Nemechek’s Run Ends, But Legacy Continues to Build
While he won’t be heading to Indianapolis, John Hunter Nemechek’s In-Season Challenge campaign deserves recognition. The Legacy Motor Club driver came in as the No. 12 seed thanks to sixth-place finishes at Pocono and Mexico City. While he never finished higher than 15th in the tournament rounds, his consistent form and grit nearly carried him to the title match.
At Dover, Nemechek and Dillon traded positions inside the top 20, but both went a lap down during the long green-flag run that shaped the middle of the race. When the late caution fell, only Dillon received the free pass—and that was the difference.
Nemechek’s campaign highlighted how even mid-pack cars could find a way deep into the bracket, reinforcing NASCAR’s goal of injecting new strategy and excitement into the summer stretch. Though eliminated, he’s proven a resilient fighter and a key part of Legacy’s 2025 progress.
“I hope Dillon wins, and I hope it’s in the goofiest fashion possible, like door to door for 30th at the flag, or Gibbs loses a motor on the first lap or something.”
“I want Gibbs to win and get DQ’d, that would be the funniest way for this to end.”
“I hope Dillon just dumps Gibbs first chance he gets.” – NASCAR Fans’ Reaction
News in Brief: Full 2025 In-Season Challenge Final Set
Ty Dillon advanced to the 2025 In-Season Challenge final after receiving a free pass during the final caution at Dover, finishing 20th and beating John Hunter Nemechek by one spot. Ty Gibbs also advanced, outlasting Tyler Reddick in a top-10 battle to finish fifth. Denny Hamlin won the Dover race but was already eliminated by Dillon in the opening round. With one race left, the title will go to either Gibbs or Dillon at Indianapolis. The Challenge concludes Sunday in the Brickyard 400.
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