Inaugural NASCAR in-season tournament: Bracket and more info
HAMPTON, Ga. — The bracket is set for the inaugural NASCAR in-season tournament, which kicks off this Saturday at EchoPark Speedway at Atlanta.
Over the next five races, 32 NASCAR Cup Series teams will square off to determine who will $1 million. A fan could also win $1 million for their bracket.
Although, a wild first race may have slimmed down those chances some.
MORE: Brackets busted in first round of NASCAR in-season tournament
NASCAR In-Season Challenge Tournament Bracket
The top-32 in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings after the June 1 race at Nashville Superspeedway locked into the in-season tournament. NASCAR seeded the tournament based on drivers’ finishes at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono.
NASCAR In-Season Challenge Tournament: How it Works
The tournament consists of 32 drivers competing head-to-head for a $1 million prize. The field will go from 32 drivers to 16 to 8 to four to two through these five races:
Photo by Marcus Leno/TRE 
Photo: Jonathan Fjeld/TRE 
Credit: SONOMA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 09: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) 
Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images 
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
- EchoPark Speedway at Atlanta: June 28 at 7 p.m. (all times Eastern)
- “All 32 eligible entries will run a unified black-and-yellow ‘In-Season Challenge’ windshield header decal.”
- Chicago Street Race: July 6 at 2 p.m.
- Cars in rounds two through four “will carry unique color-based windshield header decals based on bracket matchups”
- Cars go back to regular decals once eliminated
- Cars in rounds two through four “will carry unique color-based windshield header decals based on bracket matchups”
- Sonoma Raceway: July 13 at 3:30 p.m.
- Dover Motor Speedway: July 20 at 2 p.m.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway: July 27 at 2 p.m.
- The final two drivers will run a special gold/chrome header
All races will air on TNT and Max. Larry McReynolds and Jeff Burton will host an altcast on truTV, focusing exclusively on tournament matchups in real time.
MORE: Prime Video, TNT Sports name announcers for NASCAR Cup Series races
During the tournament, the highest-finishing driver in each matchup advances to the next round. At Indy, only one driver will be left standing.
Fans can win $1 million if they fill out a perfect bracket. NASCAR is also partnering with DraftKings to offer bets on the tournament.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
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