NASCAR In-Season Challenge Shock at Chicagoland

Cinderella Runs Persist

Alex Bowman entered the tournament as the No. 32 seed, but his unlikely march keeps gaining momentum. After toppling top seed Tyler Reddick at Sonoma, he bested No. 16 seed Austin Cindric by finishing fourth at Chicagoland. The Hendrick driver now heads to EchoPark Speedway, where a rematch with Todd Gilliland awaits.

Gilliland’s Upset March

Todd Gilliland has turned heads all tournament long. He first shocked Daniel Suárez in Round 1, and then sent No. 9 seed Carson Hocevar home by crossing the finish line 16th while Hocevar recorded a 22nd place. The No. 25 seed now faces Bowman, guaranteeing that either a 25 or a 32 seed will reach the semifinals.

Briscoe’s Win Ends Gibbs Run

One of Sunday’s biggest upsets came from the left side of the bracket. Chase Briscoe captured the Chicagoland Cup, knocking defending champion Ty Gibbs out of the In-Season Challenge. The win sets up a showdown with Chase Elliott, who dispatched Michael McDowell after finishing 11th to McDowell’s 29th.

Top Seeds Advance

The top half of the bracket followed expected patterns for most of the field. Denny Hamlin secured his spot by beating Erik Jones after a third‑place run, while Christopher Bell advanced with a runner‑up finish despite a fractured wrist. Ryan Blaney also moved on after defeating Shane van Gisbergen, and William Byron eliminated Kyle Larson, whose 34th‑place spin proved decisive.

Quarterfinal Lineup Set

• Alex Bowman (32) vs. Todd Gilliland (25)
• Denny Hamlin (2) vs. Christopher Bell (10)
• William Byron (11) vs. Ryan Blaney (3)

The quarterfinals will be contested at EchoPark Speedway with just eight drivers left in NASCAR’s second annual In-Season Challenge. Fans can expect more surprise outcomes as the bracket tightens heading into the semifinals.