Gilliland playing the underdog role in NASCAR's in-season challenge

It is down to the final four in the In-Season Challenge, and Todd Gilliland will play the role of David going up against Goliath.

Gilliland is the No. 25 seed. The other three contenders all come from inside the top 10, and from powerhouse organizations.

The third-round matchups will take place Sunday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

·      Ryan Blaney (No. 3) vs. Christopher Bell (No. 10)

·      Chase Elliott (No. 4) vs. Todd Gilliland (No. 25)

“Yeah. Somehow, someway,” Gilliland said of advancing. “It was not our night (at EchoPark Speedway), but that is why I love this team. No matter what, we just don’t give up, whether that means we’re running well or just barely grinding out a top 20; sometimes you’ll have those days. 

“We’ve been just barely skating by and two more rounds (to go). Two more really good races stand between us and a million bucks. We were just saying: I didn’t have the best night, but in two weeks that would make me feel a lot better. We’ve got the best of the best still in it, and it’s time to go beat them.”

The drivers who were eliminated after the race at EchoPark Speedway were Alex Bowman (who lost to Gilliland), Chase Briscoe (who lost to Elliott), Denny Hamlin (who lost to Bell), and William Byron (who lost to Blaney).

Sunday’s race will set up the final matchup for the $1 million prize at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.