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In-Season Challenge Shapes Up Dramatically at Pocono Final Seeding Race
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Highlights
- Final NASCAR In-Season Challenge seeding race at Pocono on Sunday
- Thirty-two drivers qualify based on best finishes from three tracks
- Tyler Reddick currently seeded 21st, seeking improved positioning
- Ryan Blaney at 23rd seed faces Ross Chastain in first round
- Bubba Wallace seeded 6th, set to race Joey Logano, 27th seed
- $1-million grand prize awaits winner of the new playoff format
Ryan Blaney, who won last year’s Cup championship, is another driver moving down the list, currently at the 23rd seed. If the seeding stays the same, he would face Ross Chastain, the number 10 seed.
Blaney admitted he hadn’t paid much attention to the matchups until after Mexico City, but once he saw the seeding chart, he knew he needed to improve. Still, Blaney believes that Atlanta—EchoPark’s former name—could see plenty of surprises in the opening tournament round.
“You’re going to see a lot of upsets at Atlanta just because of the way the track is,” he said.
Blaney added that every spot matters once the tournament gets underway, even if it leads to drivers battling hard for places as far back as 20th.
The bracket also features Bubba Wallace as the number six seed, lined up to go against 2023 Cup Series champion Joey Logano at number 27. Wallace is keeping his focus simple.
At stake is a $1-million grand prize, making every finish even more meaningful.
He says, “I’ve been paying attention to the seeding, but you can’t let that be a distraction.” For him, the excitement lies with the fans, as they get to watch their favorite teams and drivers fight for their spots in the new playoff format.
Wallace is determined to concentrate on clean racing and not let the bracket distract from the day’s job.
The fresh format shakes up the usual routine, and drivers admit to feeling the added tension as they scramble for better seeds.
Thirty-two spots are locked in, but the matchups will not be final until the checkered flag waves at Pocono.
In this new tournament, every position counts, creating new drama and rivalries even in the middle of the pack.
As Sunday’s race approaches, all eyes will be on how the final seeds shake out across the field. The drivers know that each lap matters more than ever, and the fans are watching closely to see who rises and who gets caught up in the scramble.
The In-Season Challenge is set to offer big rewards and high-stakes moments when it begins the following week. The stage is set at Pocono for one of the season’s most important showdowns.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
* The featured image is not a real photograph — it was created using AI.
