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 4 at North Wilkesboro is complete, and just 2 drivers remain: No. 3 Ryan Blaney and No. 25 Todd Gilliland meet in the Champions Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26 for the $1 million prize. Grab the free printable bracket below, fill in your picks, and follow the finale to the checkered flag.
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: Champions Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, July 26, 2 p.m. ET on TNT Sports
- Final: Champion crowned at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 26
- Drivers remaining: 2 (Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland, after Round 4 at North Wilkesboro)
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 4 results: North Wilkesboro Speedway (July 19)
| Winner (Seed) | Finish | Eliminated (Seed) | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Gilliland (25) | 8 | Chase Elliott (4) | 17 |
| Ryan Blaney (3) | 11 | Christopher Bell (10) | 19 |
Champions Round matchup: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26)
| Matchup | Seed | vs. | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney vs. Todd Gilliland | 3 | vs. | 25 |
North Wilkesboro set the finale: Todd Gilliland, the No. 25 seed, upset No. 4 Chase Elliott with an eighth-place run to reach his first In-Season Challenge final, while 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney outran Christopher Bell to book the other spot. The two meet at Indianapolis on July 26 for the $1,000,000 prize.
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.
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