NASCAR's In-Season Challenge bracket set

NASCAR finalized its bracket for the In-Season Challenge with the conclusion of Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway, and one doesn’t have to look far to find the matchup to watch.

Because history has a weird way of repeating itself.

Denny Hamlin and Ty Dillon will square off in the first round for the second consecutive year. Why is that noteworthy? A year ago, Dillon advanced by beating Hamlin in the first round matchup at EchoPark Speedway. Granted, the wild race eliminated many big-name drivers, but a round win is a round win.

Dillon then used the moment to go viral, poking at Hamlin and his fans with a “I just knocked your favorite driver out.” A play on Hamlin teasing race fans that he beat their favorite driver after a race win.

“My Kryptonite,” Hamlin laughed upon being informed he faces Dillon again.

Hamlin then wanted to know which race was to begin the tournament. It starts June 28 at Sonoma Raceway (as NASCAR didn’t want a new event in San Diego to be the opener).

“I’m cooked,” said Hamlin, who is not a road course favorite.

By the time the 2025 tournament wound down, Dillon had capitalized on the moment with repeated social media-worthy highlight reels and advancing all the way to the finals. Ultimately, he lost to Ty Gibbs.

This year’s challenge will go from Sonoma through Chicagoland Speedway (July 5), EchoPark Speedway (July 12), North Wilkesboro Speedway (July 19), and the finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26).

Round 1 is as follows:

· Tyler Reddick (1 seed) vs. Alex Bowman (32 seed)

· Denny Hamlin (2 seed) vs. Ty Dillon (31 seed)

· Ryan Blaney (3 seed) vs. Josh Berry (30 seed)

· Chase Elliot (4 seed) vs. Noah Gragson (29 seed)

· Ty Gibbs (5 seed) vs. Austin Dillon (28 seed)

· Kyle Larson (6 seed) vs. Riley Herbst (27 seed)

· Chris Buescher (7 seed) vs. John Hunter Nemechek (26 seed)

· Daniel Suarez (8 seed) vs. Todd Gilliland (25 seed)

· Carson Hocevar (9 seed) vs. Zane Smith (24 seed)

· Christopher Bell (10 seed) vs. Ross Chastain (23 seed)

· William Byron (11 seed) vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (22 seed)

· Chase Briscoe (12 seed) vs. AJ Allmendinger (21 seed)

· Bubba Wallace (13 seed) vs. Michael McDowell (20 seed)

· Shane van Gisbergen (14 seed) vs. Ryan Preece (19 seed)

· Erik Jones (15 seed) vs. Joey Logano (18 seed)

· Austin Cindric (16 seed) vs. Brad Keselowski (17 seed)

The winner receives $1 million.