NASCAR Launches In-Season Challenge Tournament

NASCAR is launching its first-ever in-season tournament, officially named the In-Season Challenge, to increase mid-season excitement and fan engagement. The five-race, March Madness-style bracket features 32 drivers seeded by their top finishes in recent Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono races. The tournament begins June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and concludes July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a $1 million prize for the winner. Top seeds include Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, and Christopher Bell, with opening round matchups such as Hamlin vs. Ty Dillon and Briscoe vs. Noah Gragson. The event is separate from the regular Cup Series points races and draws inspiration from similar tournaments in the NBA. TNT Sports will broadcast each round, with alternate coverage providing weekly analysis of the bracket.