Top Seeds Advance in NASCAR In-Season Tournament

The eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 5 sent three of the top four seeds—Denny Hamlin (2‑seed), Ryan Blaney (3‑seed) and Chase Elliott (4‑seed)—through to the final eight. The 12‑seed driver who also claimed the race win, Chase Briscoe, rounds out the eight‑runner field for next week’s quarterfinals.

Chicagoland Results Shape Final Eight

The opening round produced a mix of expectations and surprises. Alex Bowman (32‑seed) posted a fifth‑place finish to knock out 16‑seed Austin Cindric, while Todd Gilliland (25‑seed) moved on with a 16th‑place result over 9‑seed Carson Hocevar.

Chase Briscoe dominated the running to secure the checkered flag and advance the 12‑seed, downing 5‑seed Ty Gibbs. Further marquee matchups saw 4‑seed Chase Elliott earn an 11th‑place finish, eliminating 20‑seed Michael McDowell.

William Byron (11‑seed) used a third‑place run to dispatch 6‑seed Kyle Larson, and 3‑seed Ryan Blaney turned a seventh‑place effort into a victory over 14‑seed Shane van Gisbergen. Christopher Bell (10‑seed) also progressed with a first‑place finish, beating 7‑seed Chris Buescher. The final battle of the round came when 2‑seed Denny Hamlin finished fourth, sending 15‑seed Erik Jones home.

Next Week’s Quarterfinals

• 32‑seed Alex Bowman vs. 25‑seed Todd Gilliland at EchoPark Speedway
• 12‑seed Chase Briscoe vs. 4‑seed Chase Elliott
• 11‑seed William Byron vs. 3‑seed Ryan Blaney
• 10‑seed Christopher Bell vs. 2‑seed Denny Hamlin

These matchups will be held on July 12 at EchoPark Speedway and will determine which four drivers join the remaining four in the semifinals.

The survival of three top seeds illustrates the depth of talent in the series, while Briscoe’s race win shows that lower‑seeded drivers can still break through. The quarterfinal round promises high stakes, as each contender fights for a spot in the next stage of the NASCAR in‑season challenge.