After three straight victories, not much can cool Denny Hamlin’s heater right now.
Except maybe Ty Dillon and road courses?
“I’m cooked,” Hamlin said with a laugh after his latest win at Pocono on June 14.
That race solidified the seedings for the second annual NASCAR In-Season Challenge. The top 32 drivers in the Cup Series standings will square off in a single-elimination bracket over a five-week stretch from June 28 to July 26. The host tracks include Sonoma, Chicagoland, Atlanta, North Wilkesboro and Indianapolis.
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No. 1 (Tyler Reddick) will battle No. 32 (Alex Bowman), No. 2 (Hamlin) will face No. 31 (Dillon) and so on in the opening round at Sonoma. The driver with the better finish in each pairing will advance to the Round of 16.
The process will continue until two racers remain for the championship race at the Brickyard. The winner receives $1 million.
Last year, Ty Gibbs claimed the cash by beating Dillon, the final racer to make the tournament field. Dillon had upset top-seeded Hamlin in the first round, hence the latter’s quip after Pocono. Hamlin also struggles on road courses like Sonoma.
Here’s a look at the seeding and first-round matchups.
NASCAR In-Season Challenge seeds, first-round matchups
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket reveals matchups. Upsets incoming?
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
