Ty Dillon epically trolls Denny Hamlin after Round 1 In-Season-Challenge victory at Atlanta

Denny Hamlin entered the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge as the No. 1 overall seed. His Round 1 matchup in Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) was Ty Dillon.

On paper, this looked to be a sure win for Hamlin. The tale of the tape showed a 57-time Cup Series winner (Hamlin) versus a driver sitting 33rd in the points standings (Dillon). But professional sports aren’t decided on a piece of paper; in this case, it’s decided through 400 miles on the racetrack.

Saturday’s race is in the books and it’s Dillon advancing to Round 2 after a season-best eighth-place finish at Atlanta. After the race, Dillon had a message for Hamlin and his fanbase.

“For all you Denny fans out there, I just knocked your favorite driver out,” Dillon said on the TNT broadcast.

Ty Dillon advances past Denny Hamlin after chaotic night at Atlanta

It’s quite the dig at Hamlin, who has become known for saying, “I just beat your favorite driver” after some of his wins over the years. On this night, Dillon had the upper hand. It was truly the bracket buster of all bracket busters, though most of those brackets weren’t in good shape just 70 laps into the race.

Those who not only picked Hamlin to move past Dillon, but win the entire tournament, were devastated after Hamlin crashed out in the 23-car wreck on Lap 69. Hamlin underwent repairs in the garage before returning to the track 109 laps down. It wasn’t long after that Hamlin called it a night. He officially finished 31st.

“All of us were in the top line pushing off Turn 2, and some zigged, some zagged, most crashed. I don’t know,” Hamlin said of the wreck. “I was on the bumper of [John Hunter Nemechek], and he was on the bumper of somebody else. We all were just pushing and speedway zigging and zagging, and we all crashed, so part of it. Now we go watch the rest of the race.”

Dillon has another big challenge ahead awaiting him in Round 2 — the Chicago Street Race. Brad Keselowski, who finished second to Chase Elliott at Atlanta, is matched up with Dillon. The winner advances to the Round 3 race at Sonoma Raceway.