The 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge is a 32-driver, single-elimination tournament worth $1 million, contested head-to-head across five straight NASCAR Cup Series races on TNT Sports. Round 1 is complete, 16 drivers are out, and the bracket now heads to Chicagoland Speedway on July 5. Grab the free printable bracket below, fill in your picks, and follow every matchup through to the Champions Round at Indianapolis on July 26.
Quick Facts
- Event: 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge (Cup Series bracket tournament)
- Format: 32 drivers, single-elimination, five races, higher finisher advances
- Prize: $1,000,000 to the champion
- Next round: Round 2 at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, July 5, 6 p.m. ET on TNT Sports
- Final: Champions Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 26
- Drivers remaining: 16 (after Round 1 at Sonoma)
Free printable In-Season Challenge bracket
Print the full 32-driver bracket with Round 1 results already filled in and the Round 2 matchups set. Track it round by round through the $1 million finish at Indianapolis.
Round 2 matchups: Chicagoland Speedway (July 5)
| Matchup | Seed | vs. | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Bowman vs. Austin Cindric | 32 | vs. | 16 |
| Todd Gilliland vs. Carson Hocevar | 25 | vs. | 9 |
| Chase Briscoe vs. Ty Gibbs | 12 | vs. | 5 |
| Michael McDowell vs. Chase Elliott | 20 | vs. | 4 |
| Denny Hamlin vs. Erik Jones | 2 | vs. | 15 |
| Chris Buescher vs. Christopher Bell | 7 | vs. | 10 |
| William Byron vs. Kyle Larson | 11 | vs. | 6 |
| Shane van Gisbergen vs. Ryan Blaney | 14 | vs. | 3 |
The headline pairing is an all-Hendrick Motorsports clash between William Byron and Kyle Larson, two of the best intermediate-track racers in the field. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs also draw each other, and top remaining seed Denny Hamlin faces a red-hot Erik Jones.
Round 1 results (Sonoma Raceway)
| Winner (Seed) | Finish | Eliminated (Seed) | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Bowman (32) | 10 | Tyler Reddick (1) | 36 |
| Austin Cindric (16) | 13 | Brad Keselowski (17) | 15 |
| Todd Gilliland (25) | 29 | Daniel Suarez (8) | 31 |
| Carson Hocevar (9) | 11 | Zane Smith (24) | 18 |
| Ty Gibbs (5) | 3 | Austin Dillon (28) | 27 |
| Chase Briscoe (12) | 2 | A.J. Allmendinger (21) | 16 |
| Chase Elliott (4) | 17 | Noah Gragson (29) | 32 |
| Michael McDowell (20) | 9 | Bubba Wallace (13) | 22 |
| Denny Hamlin (2) | 26 | Ty Dillon (31) | 35 |
| Erik Jones (15) | 23 | Joey Logano (18) | 24 |
| Chris Buescher (7) | 19 | John Hunter Nemechek (26) | 25 |
| Christopher Bell (10) | 5 | Ross Chastain (23) | 14 |
| William Byron (11) | 12 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (22) | 21 |
| Kyle Larson (6) | 4 | Riley Herbst (27) | 30 |
| Shane van Gisbergen (14) | 1 | Ryan Preece (19) | 8 |
| Ryan Blaney (3) | 6 | Josh Berry (30) | 28 |
2026 In-Season Challenge schedule
| Round | Date | Track | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | June 28 | Sonoma Raceway | 3:30 p.m. | TNT Sports |
| Round 2 | July 5 | Chicagoland Speedway | 6 p.m. | TNT Sports |
| Round 3 | July 12 | EchoPark Speedway | 7 p.m. | TNT Sports |
| Round 4 | July 19 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | 7 p.m. | TNT Sports |
| Champions Round | July 26 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. | TNT Sports |
How the In-Season Challenge works
The In-Season Challenge is a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament held during the regular NASCAR Cup Series season. Thirty-two drivers were seeded by points position entering the event (set after the race at Pocono), then paired off in head-to-head matchups. In each matchup, the driver with the better finishing position in that week’s race advances; the other is eliminated. The field is cut from 32 to 16, then to eight, four, two, and finally a single champion crowned at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is one of the few true brackets in motorsports, which makes it perfect for a printable pool with friends.
Want more race-day printables? Browse our NASCAR schedules and printable TV trackers for every 2026 Cup Series race.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NASCAR In-Season Challenge?
It is a 32-driver, single-elimination bracket tournament run over five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races. Drivers face off head-to-head each week, and the higher finisher advances until one driver wins the $1 million prize.
When and where is Round 2?
Round 2 is at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, July 5, at 6 p.m. ET on TNT Sports. Sixteen drivers remain, competing in eight head-to-head matchups.
How do drivers advance in the bracket?
The driver with the better finishing position in each head-to-head matchup advances to the next round. There are no points carried over; each round is decided solely by that week’s race result.
What channel is the In-Season Challenge on?
All five rounds air on TNT Sports, part of TNT’s summer stretch of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
Official bracket and results: NASCAR.com In-Season Challenge.
