The NASCAR In‑Season Challenge entered its third round with eight drivers still in the hunt, each eyeing a $1 million prize that awaits the eventual champion.
The Road to $1 Million
EchoPark Speedway in Texas will host the decisive race, a drafting‑heavy venue that has proven unpredictable in past editions.
Denny Hamlin secured his spot after beating Erik Jones, while Christopher Bell edged past Chris Buescher; William Byron survived Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney defeated Shane van Gisbergen. Alex Bowman also advanced by overcoming Austin Cindric, and Todd Gilliland pulled off an upset over Carson Hocevar. Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott won their respective battles against Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell.
The winners of the Hamlin‑Bell and Byron‑Blaney pairings will move on to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the fourth round, and the victors of the Bowman‑Gilliland and Briscoe‑Elliott matchups will join them, setting the stage for a final showdown at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
EchoPark has been a venue of note for several competitors; Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell are the only drivers left who have tasted victory there, while Alex Bowman finished runner‑up a year ago and Denny Hamlin has managed just a single top‑10 finish in his last six appearances.
With the prize pool locked in and the track’s drafting dynamics promising surprise outcomes, the upcoming race promises high stakes and a compelling finish to the In‑Season Challenge.