The road to a million: NASCAR's 2026 in-season challenge is here
The wait is over for the second NASCAR In-Season Challenge, and frankly, the stakes are as high as they get: a $1 million prize waiting for the survivor of a grueling five-race sprint. Following the results at Pocono Raceway, we have a field of 32 drivers ready to take on a variety of disciplines, from the technical turns of Sonoma Raceway to the high-speed drafting at EchoPark Speedway, ultimately culminating at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Tyler Reddick is the clear man to watch as the No. 1 seed. Having led the championship since his win at Daytona, he has shown almost zero weaknesses. If you are looking for momentum, look no further than Denny Hamlin, who secured the No. 2 seed after winning the last three Cup Series races. Meanwhile, don't count out the reigning winner, Ty Gibbs, who has evolved from last year's long shot into a legitimate championship threat this season.
On the other side of the spectrum, some drivers face an uphill battle. Bubba Wallace has been handed a brutal draw, forced to face road-course specialist Michael McDowell in the opening round, while Ryan Preece has the unenviable task of going head-to-head with Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma. If you want a real dark horse, keep an eye on Zane Smith; he has a favorable opening matchup and, despite some rough luck at Michigan and Pocono, the No. 38 team has shown top-10 speed that could cause an upset.
