LONG POND, Pa. — It’s time to dive into the excitement as NASCAR unveils its first-ever in-season tournament, adding a fresh twist to its usual summer races. Fans and drivers alike are preparing for a unique experience akin to the thrill of March’s upset specials.
NASCAR’s attempt to shake off the mid-summer slump begins with an ambitious strategy that could see its regular season burst into life with a five-race, bracket-style tournament known as the In-Season Challenge. This event promises heightened engagement as drivers contend for a $1 million jackpot.
Enthusiasm is skyrocketing to levels reminiscent of NASCAR’s glory days when dramatic duels, such as the legendary 1979 Daytona 500 brawl between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough, captivated audiences. Yet, not all drivers are yet fully immersed in the spirit of the tournament.
2020 NASCAR champion Chase Elliott, who ranks as NASCAR’s most popular driver, admitted, “To be really honest with you, I have not paid any attention to it.” As the competition unfolds at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Elliott is seeded fifth and will face off against No. 28 seed Austin Dillon in this race-within-a-race showdown.
This initiative mirrors similar tournament models undertaken by the NBA, NHL, and international soccer, signaling a broader trend of sports reinventing in-season competitions to maintain fan interest. NASCAR’s spin on this is set within its summer schedule, where 32 drivers will compete in head-to-head matchups. The challenge progresses through high-stakes eliminations, ultimately leading to a showdown over the legendary bricks of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Drivers were seeded based on results from prior races in Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono, creating intriguing matchups. Top seed Denny Hamlin, buoyed by performance, will clash against No. 32 seed Ty Dillon, while Pocono victor Chase Briscoe takes the field as the No. 2 seed against Noah Gragson.
The tournament adopts a single-elimination format and features an engaging bracket approach that resonates with fans of college basketball’s March Madness. Certain drivers have swiftly embraced the concept, viewing it as a revitalizing force amid the competitive routine of the season.
Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I love it. I think it’s great. It’s placed perfectly where it is in the season.” Logano appreciates the challenge as it adds an unexpected twist during a phase where playoff predictions and cut-off lines start attracting attention.
Beyond track battles, NASCAR hopes to capture audience interest through gripping storylines. These narratives, crucial in driving viewership, were highlighted recently with off-track dramas such as crew triumphs in Pocono and the end of Amazon Prime’s highly regarded race telecasts.
Despite attracting attention, the novelty of the tournament is reflected in the absence of betting odds on specific matchups for the Atlanta round as of Monday. Nonetheless, NASCAR fuels fan enthusiasm by offering $1 million to any fan with a perfect tournament bracket in its fantasy game.
The In-Season Challenge’s novelty extends with surprising elements in the draw: Shane van Gisbergen, a Cup race victor, is absent from the field, while series points leader William Byron is seeded unusually low at No. 9.
The concept came from Denny Hamlin, a stalwart of the Daytona 500, who proposed a mid-season tournament in his “Actions Detrimental” podcast. Exuberant about NASCAR’s embrace of his idea, he playfully tweeted his anticipation for future “royalties” given the tournament’s expected success.
Hamlin, riding high from three victories this year, enters as a clear favorite. Still, he acknowledges the coming challenges due to tracks historically unkind to him. His resolve is evident: “I’m a sports guy, so I’m going to be engaged with it. We are going to try and do our best to beat that one car for the next four to five weeks.”
The Indianapolis finale will be a spectacle: the winner receives not only a substantial financial prize but also the honor of a trophy, jacket, and a symbolic ring commemorating this novel chapter in NASCAR history.
In light of the million-dollar allure, even Elliott seemed captivated. “Oh, a million dollars to the winner?” he pondered. Then the realization struck, “Then yeah, we want to win.”