The race weekend at Pocono Raceway provides another opportunity for Cup Series drivers to score crucial points. It also serves as a pivotal part of NASCAR's $1 million tournament.
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The In-Season Challenge will return this year, and it will feature the top 32 drivers competing in a bracket-style tournament for the $1 million prize. The actual tournament does not begin until Sonoma Raceway on June 28, but Pocono will mark the final race before NASCAR sets the bracket.
Unlike the inaugural In-Season Challenge last year, NASCAR will use a straightforward method to set the seeds. The top 32 drivers in the Cup Series standings will have a seed assigned to them after this weekend's race at Pocono.
For example, Tyler Reddick will most likely be the top seed. He has a 51-point lead in the Cup Series standings over Denny Hamlin and a 157-point lead over Ryan Blaney in third. These spots are unlikely to change in one race, so these drivers will likely take the top three seeds.
The potential for shakeup increases further down the standings. The drivers are far closer in points, which past races have shown as multiple have shifted positions around The Chase cutline.
Shane van Gisbergen is 14th in the standings with 355 points. Brad Keselowski is only five points behind him. Austin Cindric is in 16th with 332 points. Joey Logano is only three points behind him. These four drivers are only some of those who could move up or down in the bracket after the trip to Pocono Raceway.
This is also true for Alex Bowman, who is currently 32nd in the standings. He is only three points ahead of Cole Custer, who is the first driver below the bracket cutline.
Once the tournament's bracket is set, the drivers will race each other over a five-week span. Those with the best finish will advance to the next round. San Diego is not a part of the In-Season Challenge as it is a new track on the schedule.
The 2026 In-Season Challenge Schedule
- Sonoma Raceway on June 28 — 32 drivers
- Chicagoland Speedway on July 5 - 16 drivers
- EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) on July 12 - 8 drivers
- North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19 - 4 drivers
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26 - 2 drivers
As was the case in 2025, all of these five races will air on TNT. The broadcast partner will have exclusive coverage as Cup Series drivers battle for the $1 million prize. Ty Gibbs won the inaugural In-Season Challenge after defeating Ty Dillon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
