The NASCAR Cup Series has multiple broadcasters, and each brings something different to the table. With TNT Sports’ broadcast comes the additional In-Season Challenge, currently in its second year. 

With the grand prize of $1 million waiting for a driver who outperforms the driver they are pitted against, one driver is currently on a Cinderella run as the challenge moves into the semi-finals stage. 

Todd Gilliland, who entered the 32-driver challenge as the 25th seed, is now set to face off against HMS’ Chase Elliott when the engines roar at North Wilkesboro. 

Gilliland, the 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver, spoke to the media after the race in Atlanta and was asked about the challenge of making it to the semi-finals. In the video uploaded to X by Tim Moore, Gilliland, who went head-to-head against Alex Bowman, said:

“When I saw the 48 spun out, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is going to be a wild way to beat him,' but yeah, we were focused on that at the end there, and we were able to hold him off.”

The FRM driver finished 19th with Bowman three places back in 22nd. In previous rounds, Gilliland first outperformed Daniel Suarez by finishing 29th ahead of the Spire driver in 31st in Sonoma and Carson Hocevar in Chicagoland by finishing 16th ahead of Hocevar in 22nd. 

The next battle, however, may be the toughest yet as Gilliland goes head-to-head versus the 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott who’s season long consistency and pace see him 5th on the leaderboard with 610 points. But who else is in the mix?

Ryan Blaney favorite to win the In-Season Cup Challenge

Although Todd Gilliland has had a good run, getting into the semi-finals, it will be hard for him to take on the highest-ranked Toyota driver. 

Gilliland goes head-to-head with 4th-seeded Chase Elliott, who will be putting on triple duty in North Wilkesboro, driving the Kyle Busch 7 Spire truck in the Truck race, Dale Jr’s 8 car in the CARS Tour event, and his own 9 Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet in the Cup series. 

Elliott came through by outperforming Noah Gragson in Sonoma, Michael McDowell at Chicagoland, and Chase Briscoe in Atlanta. 

On the other side of the bracket, it’s 3rd-seeded Atlanta race-winner Ryan Blaney taking on Christopher Bell, who, despite a fractured wrist, had been putting on stunning drives. 

Blaney entered the semis of the In-Season Challenge by beating Josh Berry in Sonoma. At Chicagoland, he outperformed Shane Van Gisbergen, and  William Byron finished in 16th in Atlanta, 15 spots behind Blaney’s win. 

Bell, who got out of his car less than half the race through San Diego, was back in a hurry and looks like he’s driving at 100 per cent, having beaten Ross Chastain in Sonoma, Chris Buescher in Chicagoland and his championship-leading teammate Denny Hamlin in Atlanta. 

Who do you think is best poised to win the challenge? Let us know.

Read more at RFK Racing Digest.            

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason