Who will advance in Round 2 of NASCAR’s $1 million challenge?

At EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta), the sector of 32 was minimize in half as NASCAR’s five-week in-season problem formally obtained underway. Even with the anticipated chaos of a drafting monitor, nobody anticipated a 23-car pileup that may assist the No. 32 and No. 31 seeds defeat the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.

There are a lot of underdogs left whereas massive names will probably be pressured to sit down on the sidelines for the remainder of the competitors. No fan can win the $1 million prize, as actually each bracket was busted at Atlanta, however one of many remaining 16 drivers will nonetheless go on to gather $1 million for themselves.

Spherical 2 takes place on the Chicago Road Course and with rain doubtlessly impacting the occasion once more, something can occur.

This is a have a look at the eight matchups and who we expect will advance into Spherical 3 at Sonoma…

Be aware: The NASCAR in-season problem solely provides a financial prize and doesn’t impression the championship

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

The underside seed lives to battle one other day! After ousting Denny Hamlin at Atlanta, Dillon will even eradicate Keselowski at Chicago, however he will not want a 23-car pileup this time. Dillon is a strong street racer and ran inside the highest ten for a big portion of the Cup race in Mexico Metropolis. He would not have as a lot expertise as Keselowski — the 2012 NASCAR Cup champion — however Brad has struggled on street and road programs within the Subsequent Gen period. 

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

It is laborious to wager in opposition to the defending winner of the occasion. Wallace has proven clear enchancment on street and road programs, however Bowman is clearly on one other degree at a lot of these tracks. In fact, Bowman gained this race final yr, however he additionally scored a high ten at COTA and a high 5 in Mexico Metropolis in 2025. In the meantime, Wallace’s finest outcome at Chicago is thirteenth.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Contemporary off a giant win at his dwelling monitor in Atlanta, Elliott is the definitive favourite over Nemechek. Whereas John-Hunter completed a really sturdy sixth in Mexico Metropolis, Elliott was on the rostrum. And if not for a Lap 1 incident at COTA, he may have contended for the win there. He additionally has a podium end on the streets of Chicago whereas Nemechek positioned thirty fifth in his solely begin there.

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

Stenhouse has a finest end of sixth at Chicago whereas Jones has solely reached sixteenth, however Jones is our choose right here. It will likely be a little bit of a toss-up as these drivers appear equally matched in terms of ability degree at street/road programs, and it could come right down to who can preserve their nostril clear whereas in the course of the pack.

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Photograph by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photographs

Gragson is not any street racer and infamously crashed a number of occasions within the rain through the inaugural Chicago Road Course race. These two drivers have proven related pace at Chicago prior to now, however Preece has actually upped his recreation in 2025. He gained a stage at COTA, certified on the entrance row in Mexico Metropolis, and has been remarkably constant this yr. If each of those drivers keep out of bother, Preece takes this battle.

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Reddick completely may have gained this race one yr in the past if he hadn’t made an unforced error and tagged the wall whereas pursuing Bowman. Even nonetheless, he managed to attain a runner-up end whereas Hocevar ended the day outdoors the highest 20 final yr. He additionally has plenty of enemies on monitor, which is able to make issues further troublesome for him this weekend. Even when nobody does something, it is a main distraction.

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Krista Jasso / Getty Photographs

This will probably be an enchanting battle. Gibbs’ 2025 season has been a battle, however he confirmed unbelievable tempo in Mexico and appeared like the one driver who may even put up a battle in opposition to Van Gisbergen. After which you may have Allmendinger, who is among the finest street racers within the sport. Nonetheless, Chicago has not been very variety to him with a finest end of seventeenth. In the meantime, of the drivers who’ve run each Cup races at Chicago, Gibbs is tied with Michael McDowell for the very best common end after putting ninth in 2023 and third in 2024.

Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Buescher completed tenth within the first Cup race in Chicago after which twentieth final yr. Smith beat Buescher in 2024 and will positively beat him once more, however Buescher can be a confirmed winner at street programs. He beat van Gisbergen in a head-to-head battle for the win at Watkins Glen final yr, and few can declare such a feat since SVG has come over to NASCAR.

Learn Additionally: