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NASCAR insider baffled by seeding system for new In-Season Challenge
NASCAR will debut a bracket-style tournament later this month, when the new In-Season Challenge takes over for TNT's five-race stretch on June 28 at the rebranded EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).
The 32 drivers have already been determined following the race at Nashville on Sunday night. Before they battle for the $1M prize in the bracket-style elimination tournament, drivers will be seeded based on their best finish in the next three races at Michigan International Speedway, Mexico's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and Pocono Raceway.
NASCAR's decision to determine the seeding that way, rather than by the current points standings, left The Athletic's Jeff Gluck confused in a post he made on X on Tuesday.
Dude...check out this find from @_DanielCespedes. NASCAR is going to seed the in-season tournament by best finish plus tiebreakers over the next three races. It's not even points. Lmaooo WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS??? JUST USE THE STANDINGS! https://t.co/k0hD5gNTYV
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 3, 2025
The only way points will be factored in depends on tiebreaker scenarios if multiple drivers finish with the same position across the three races.
The In-Season Challenge comes in the middle of the Cup Series regular season and the grueling summer stretch. Seeding system aside, the tournament provides drivers with an added incentive and introduces something new to the sport. Not to mention, it is a competition, something 2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski made note of.
"It's good for the sport, good for our fans, and it's a competition," Keselowski said. "If there's competition, we want to win it."
Whether you agree with the seeding system or not, the In-Season Challenge provides drivers with another prize to chase and will treat fans to battles within the race that might otherwise go overlooked.
NASCAR has not shied away from changes in recent years, and this is just another example of that. With a versatile schedule on tap, the In-Season Challenge will reward the most consistent driver over the five-race stretch and potentially build momentum toward the playoffs at the end of the season.
More must-reads:
- Atlanta Motor Speedway rebranded in seven-year, multi-million dollar deal
- Where the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture sits after Nashville
- The 'NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 winners since 2000' quiz
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Cause of death revealed for Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan died on Thursday morning after a medical episode at his home in Florida, and reports have revealed the cause of death for the wrestling legend. According to audio from Pinellas County Fire and EMS that was obtained by TMZ, medical personnel were dispatched to Hogan’s home in Clearwater for a cardiac arrest at 9:51 a.m. Thursday. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was treated by first responders before being taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hogan was 71. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com was also told by sources that Hogan suffered a “massive cardiac arrest.” There had been rumors in recent months that Hogan underwent a significant heart procedure, though his representatives denied that. Longtime radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, who was once friends with Hogan, claimed on his radio show in June that Hulk was in the hospital dealing with some sort of life-threatening condition. A rep for Hogan said at the time that Hulk had been receiving medical treatment to address lingering neck and back issues but was doing well. Hogan was arguably the most famous professional wrestler of all time. His popularity in the 1980s led to the rapid growth of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was removed in 2015 over a scandal but reinstated again several years later. Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a second time in 2020 as a member of the New World Order (NWO), which he joined in 1996 when he made a heel turn while wrestling in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). A six-time WWE Champion, Hogan remained a brand ambassador for the organization up until his death.
Chris Pronger to Connor McDavid: A Lost Edmonton Oilers Decade
In the spring of 2006, Chris Pronger was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He then did something no one thought possible: he made the Edmonton Oilers a Stanley Cup contender again. That playoff run was legendary. Pronger logged enormous minutes, quarterbacked the power play, killed penalties, and led the team in scoring. In every zone and every moment, he was the difference-maker. He was the kind of player who gave an entire franchise a sense of direction—and belief. And then, just weeks after that Game 7 heartbreak in Carolina, he was gone. The Impact of the Oilers Losing a True No. 1 Blueliner Pronger’s trade request stunned the city and changed everything. Instead of building around a generational defenseman in his prime, the Oilers entered a prolonged decline. The team wouldn’t return to the playoffs for another decade. But what if he had stayed? It’s not just about Pronger’s elite play. It’s about the ripple effect of having that kind of presence anchoring a lineup. With Pronger in the fold, free agents might have been more willing to come. The team wouldn’t have scrambled to fill the void on the blue line with a carousel of short-term fixes. Young players could have developed under a true leader instead of inheriting pressure without support. The Oilers Championship Window Closed Too Soon The Oilers were close in 2006. It was not a fluke, but it was a team suddenly galvanized by elite goaltending from Dwayne Roloson, role players like Mike Peca, top-six grit like Ryan Smyth and Fernando Pisani, and above all, Pronger’s towering presence. Run it back even one more year, and who knows? A healthy Roloson, a stabilized core, and the confidence of a team that knew how close they came. Perhaps 2007 would be the season that ended differently for the Oilers. Instead, the Oilers lost their best player and wandered through the wilderness for ten years. How bad did the Oilers become? The 2006–07 season was a major disappointment in Edmonton, capped by the emotional deadline trade of fan favorite Smyth to the New York Islanders. That collapse marked the beginning of a long drought, as the team went on to miss the playoffs for 10 straight seasons until finally returning in 2016–17. Hockey Is Filled with What Ifs, the Oilers Are No Exception Hockey is full of what-ifs. But this one lingers. Because Pronger did come to Edmonton, and he did show what was possible. And for one electric spring, it looked like the Oilers had found the player who could lead them back to greatness. We just never got to find out how far that road might have gone. Fortunately, the team’s return to the playoffs in 2016–17 was spearheaded by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And that’s where the team is today. It’s a new era of success, but it took ten years to get there.
Yankees Ask About Pirates Star, as Pirates Scout Yankees Prospect
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles has learned that the New York Yankees have asked the Pittsburgh Pirates about Oneil Cruz. In what may or may not have been a related matter, Pirates scouts were in Toronto on Tuesday night to observe Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, according to MLB Marathon. Yankees Ask About Pirates Star, as Pirates Scout Yankees Prospect Hiles further reports that Pirates general manager Ben Cherington isn’t inclined to move Cruz. However, as the saying goes, everybody has a price. The Pirates would love to emerge from the deadline with one or more controllable, major league-ready hitters. Cruz could be moved if Cherington is overwhelmed by the return. Yankees Asked Pirates About Oneil Cruz We’d previously reported that the Yankees have asked the Pirates about five players. Make that six. At six-foot-seven, 240 pounds, the left-handed batting Cruz, 26, has natural talent that would make any scout’s mouth water. After Wednesday’s game, Cruz is batting .219/.319/.419, 16 HR, and 40 RBI, with a major league-leading 33 stolen bases. Blessed with speed, power, and a strong arm, he regularly registers high Statcast marks for velocity, whether off the bat or from his arm. His 57.9 percent hard-hit rate far surpasses the major league average. He got a chance to show off his power to the nation as a participant in this year’s Home Run Derby. He didn’t win, but he had some of the most impressive shots. Cruz can also be frustrating at times. Despite substantially reducing his chase rate to 26.9 percent, he carries a 31.9 percent strikeout rate. He’s had mental lapses in the field and instances where his effort has been called into question. Cruz began his career as a shortstop. After committing 24 errors there in 2024, he was moved to center field late in the season. He’s learning the position on the fly. So far, he’s been charged with -4 Fielding Runs Above Average, -7 Defensive Runs Saved, and a major league-leading seven outfield errors. Where Cruz Fits with the Yankees (If At All) Where Cruz fits with the Yankees is a puzzling question. There doesn’t seem to be room in their outfield. He’s certainly not replacing Aaron Judge. Nor does he seem to be a significant upgrade over their other outfielders or designated hitter Ben Rice. Rice, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger are left-handed batters. Jasson Dominguez is a switch-hitter. Thus, Cruz doesn’t seem to be even a platoon option. Where the Yankees can use an upgrade is on the left side of their infield. That’s why they’ve inquired about Ke’Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Third baseman Oswald Peraza is hitting a weak .147/.208/.237, 3 HR, and 13 RBI. Shortstop Anthony Volpe was once highly touted for his potential. However, playing regularly for three seasons now, he has a lifetime slash line of .224/.288/.379. His 13 home runs for 2025 are nothing to sneeze at, but in addition to his otherwise woeful batting performance, he also leads major league shortstops with 13 errors and has been a frequent target of fan vitriol. In light of the above, one wonders whether the Yankees would move Cruz back to his original shortstop position. That would be a gamble because Cruz last played the position, and not well, in August 2024. Cruz and the Yankees might be a gamble regardless of how he’s deployed. The rough fans and media in New York won’t respond kindly to his propensity for striking out and occasional brain cramps. Pittsburgh crowds can be tough, too, but nothing like what Cruz would likely encounter in the Bronx. The Yankees should strongly consider the potential impact on Cruz. Pirates Looked at Cam Schlittler Schlittler is a six-foot-six, 225-pound right-handed starting pitcher whom the Yankees called up earlier this month. His major league career consists of two starts. In 10 1/3 innings, he’s given up five earned runs on 11 hits, two of which were home runs, and five walks while striking out 10. Last Sunday, we reported on speculation that Schlittler and outfielder Spencer Jones could be the return in a deal for Hayes and David Bednar. At that time, Jones was rated the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect and Schlittler was ranked No. 6. Since then, MLB Pipeline has revised its prospect lists. Schlittler had been propelled to No. 3, and Jones dropped to No. 4. Some Pirates observers might find it odd that the Pirates, pitching-rich at the major and minor league levels, would scout another pitcher. However, a deal involving Mitch Keller or Andrew Heaney would leave a hole in the rotation. No. 1 prospect Bubba Chandler was projected to arrive in Pittsburgh this summer, but he’s struggled of late. The asking price for Cruz might be a hitter and a pitcher from the Yankees prospect list. Schlittler, 24, features a fastball that’s touched 98 mph and on which scouts have hung a 60 rating. The fastball’s movement makes it difficult to lift in the air. He also offers two effective breaking pitches with his slider and curveball. Scouts are less enthusiastic about his changeup. In 2023, he was the pitcher of the year in both the High-A and South Atlantic League and the Yankees organization. Before he got the call, this year he had a 2.82 ERA and 1.213 WHIP across two minor league levels. The Last Word One thing’s for sure: Yankees GM Brian Cashman won’t spend this trade deadline sitting on his hands. As I write this, the Yankees are 56-46, four games out of first place in the American League East Division and would be the top Wild Card entry if the season ended today. On the other hand, Cherington will be busy unloading expiring contracts. 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Milwaukee Bucks: NBA Analyst Makes Incredible U-Turn Regarding Team’s 2025 Offseason Move
Well-known Boston Celtics fan and long-time NBA analyst Bill Simmons did not like it when the Milwaukee Bucks released Damian Lillard, calling it a disaster. “I thought what Milwaukee did was one of the most desperate, reckless moves that I can ever remember,” Simmons said. “I hated it, I don’t understand it. I think it’s a disaster.” That was a week ago. Now, he makes an opposite claim about the Bucks offseason. He even believes that they have a chance to win it all in the Eastern Conference. “The team’s gonna be pretty good. They actually had a really good offseason when you consider the second best player on the team who [is supposed to] make $50 million is gonna miss the whole season,” he said. “The Cole Anthony thing was a big deal. He’s a rotation guy. They kept [Gary] Trent for nothing. He’s a rotation guy. They’ve added together a team that in a weak conference with the best player in the game [Giannis Antetokounmpo]. I think they have at least now more of a punchers chance.” Video starts at 47:47: Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason so far Most analysts are not that sold about the Bucks offseason. Over at Yahoo! Sports, they graded the team’s 2025 summer moves with a “C” but most of the explanation is about they squandered their future by choosing to pay Damian Lillard in the next five years. General manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers feel optimistic. They think they have a chance to contend and surrounded Giannis Antetokounmpo that fit his style. Myles Turner is the biggest name among the new players, signing him for $108.9 million for four years. He will take the spot vacated by Brook Lopez who is now with the Los Angeles Clippers. Another main agenda for the team over the summer is re-signing GTJ and Bobby Portis, two of the bench players who played well for them in the latter part of the elimination and the postseason. They also retained AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. – two viable option for Antetokounmpo in the three point line.
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