When it comes to NASCAR’s In-Season challenge, the stakes are always high as a million dollars are on the line. As the In-Season line-up is revealed, Denny Hamlin realizes he will be facing a familiar face during the first round of the challenge. 

After Sunday's Pocono race, which Denny Hamlin won, NASCAR put out its lineup for the five-race 2026 In-Season Challenge, which will begin with Sonoma on June 28.

During this, 32 drivers from the Cup series will face each other, and the one who loses the face-off gets eliminated from the One Million Dollar prize running. During his post-race media availability in Pocono, Hamlin was questioned about his thoughts on being lined up with Ty Dillon once again. 

"My kryptonite," he hilariously replied (via Cup Scene on YouTube).

He then asked the reporter which track the five-race challenge would begin at. The reporter replied that it was Sonoma, a road course where the three-time Daytona 500 winner has struggled in the recent past.

"I’m cooked," Hamlin replied, sending the room into laughter.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver and the Richard Childress Racing driver will be facing off against each other for the second consecutive year. And the battle last year proved to be a memorable one.

During last year's face-off, Dillon, who was the No. 32 seed, upset Hamlin, who was the No. 1 seed, after the latter got collected in a crash at Atlanta and was eliminated from the challenge.

Following this, Dillon, who isRichard Childress’ grandson, used a phrase that is often used by Hamlin after a race, which is "I just knocked your favorite driver out," to tease the No. 11 team fans. 

While Ty Dillon got the best of Denny Hamlin last year, this year can be a whole different story. The No. 11 JGR driver will be entering the challenge carrying a wave of momentum after putting together three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins in Nashville, Michigan, and Pocono.

Denny Hamlin Wins at Pocono For a Rare Three-peat

Denny Hamlin has been on a red-hot run in the past few races. On Sunday at Pocono, he achieved the first three-peat of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

He claimed pole position on Saturday, but lost the lead of the race briefly before claiming it back. Besides it being his first career three-peat, the win at the 2.5-mile "Tricky Triangle" also marked his eighth victory there.

The first of three victories at Nashville was tricky. He was penalized for jumping the race start and sent to the back of the grid.

At Michigan, he earned pole, but started from the back of the grid for not passing pre-race technical inspection, as unapproved adjustments were made to his car during repairs after a flat tire during practice.

Denny Hamlin currently stands in second place in the driver’s championship with a 19-point deficit to Tyler Reddick in first.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak