NASCAR raises eyebrows, makes late change to in-season tournament

Ty Dillon and Ty Gibbs are preparing for the finale of the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, and they believed they were racing for a cool $1 million. However, the sport’s decision makes through a wrench into that idea on Tuesday.

After many originally thought the money would go directly to the driver, NASCAR clarified and took some wind out of fan’s sails — the money will go directly to the owner, per FOX’s Bob Pockrass. It’s not like it doesn’t make sense, but that’s not what many were led to believe about the In-Season Challenge.

“Update: NASCAR says the $1 million for the winning driver will go to the owner,” Pockrass noted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “… I believe when the in-season tournament was first announced, the understanding of many in the garage was that the $1 million would go directly to the driver. But NASCAR says it will be paid to owner just like the purse (and depends on driver contract on how much driver gets).”

Now, the teams, Kaulig Racing (Dillon) and Joe Gibbs Racing (Gibbs) could opt to pay out their driver with the money. Still, it’s a shocking development that it seems like many weren’t made aware of over the course of the last month and change.

Perhaps the news ruins a bit of the excitement heading into Indianapolis this weekend. Regardless, Ty Dillon and Ty Gibbs will be fighting throughout the afternoon in Indiana, no matter where the million goes for the winner.

More on the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge

Meanwhile, Ty Dillon entered the In-Season Challenge as the lowest-seeded driver at No. 32. He’s survived all the way to the finale for a chance at winning that whole thing.

He’s left a slew of veteran wheelmen behind. Dillon has defeated Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman and John Hunter Nemechek on his way to the final round. Now, the No. 32-seed will have one final test against Ty Gibbs, who’s standing in the way of a gigantic upset.

“It feels good,” Dillon said, regarding reaching the finals, via NBC Sports. “You know, I have been the underdog for a long time now, just battling my way to try to get opportunity. Eventually you get comfortable in fighting from behind and people underestimating you. 

“It’s hard to say that we lucked into it this far in. I am proud of the way we have run. We haven’t been a dominating car, but we have been a pain to everyone around us. That is all we can do — put pressure on them and execute at the right time and that is what we have done.”

While he’s not setting the world on fire — Dillon finished P20 at Dover, one spot ahead of Nemechek — it’s been a story fans have rallied behind. The veteran wheelman has had an uneven NASCAR career, but winning the In-Season Challenge could change everything for him.