Full Breakdown
Brickyard 400 In-Season Challenge Finalists
7/27/2026, 2:23:00 PM
The Final Showdown at Indianapolis
The NASCAR Cup Series’ Brickyard 400 will also serve as the decisive race of the 2026 In-Season Challenge. The championship matchup pits Ryan Blaney against Todd Gilliland; the driver who finishes higher in the Indianapolis event claims a $1 million prize.
Structure of the In-Season Challenge
The Challenge, introduced earlier in the season, pairs drivers in seeded, four-round knockout brackets. Seedings are based on performance across designated races beginning June 28, when the series commenced its Challenge format at Sonoma Raceway. The final round is awarded at the Brickyard 400, with the better finisher taking the championship and the cash award.
Paths to the Final
- Ryan Blaney entered the final as the No. 3 seed. He secured a win in Atlanta on July 12 and posted superior finishes to:
- Josh Berry at Sonoma Raceway
- Shane Van Gisbergen at Chicagoland Speedway
- William Byron at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
- Christopher Bell at North Wilkesboro Speedway
- Todd Gilliland, the No. 25 seed, advanced by defeating:
- Daniel Suarez at Sonoma Raceway
- Carson Hocevar at Chicagoland Speedway
- Alex Bowman at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
- Chase Elliott at North Wilkesboro Speedway
These victories across four different tracks secured each driver’s place in the championship duel.
Broadcast and Stakes
The Brickyard 400 will be streamed live via the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM Channel 90, providing nationwide audio coverage of the decisive race. Beyond the $1 million prize, the event crowns the season’s most consistent performer across the Challenge’s varied venues.
