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What is it and who are the Round 1 matchups?

NASCAR’s in-season challenge has arrived, but what exactly is it all about? But before we get into specifics, let’s be clear that this has no bearing on the actual championship in any way, shape or form. The purpose of this bracket-style tournament is simply to provide some added excitement and engagement for fans, while also awarding […]

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NASCAR’s in-season challenge has arrived, but what exactly is it all about? But before we get into specifics, let’s be clear that this has no bearing on the actual championship in any way, shape or form.

The purpose of this bracket-style tournament is simply to provide some added excitement and engagement for fans, while also awarding a $1 million dollar prize to the driver who actually wins it.

Your next question is likely about how it works. Well, the top 32 drivers in points (as of three weeks ago) get to take part. So no Shane van Gisbergen, who only broke into the top-32 after winning in Mexico City. Each week, two drivers will face off against each other in a bracket similar to what you’d see for March Madness. To advance forward, a driver simply has to finish ahead of whoever they are facing that week. Points scored are not a factor in the final outcome.

This tournament lasts five weeks for the entirety of TNT’s run as they plan to broadcast a handful of NASCAR Cup races this summer between Prime Video and NBC. It will go through Atlanta, Sonoma, Chicago, Dover, and end with the final two drivers facing off in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. 

Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed, but in case you were looking to bet on a long shot, the No. 32 seed is Ty Dillon. Now, here’s a look at who is actually facing who this weekend:

Round 1 matchups — NASCAR Cup at Atlanta (EchoPark Speedway)

Denny Hamlin vs. Ty Dillon


Kyle Busch vs. Brad Keselowski


Alex Bowman vs. Joey Logano


Bubba Wallace vs. Daniel Suarez


John Hunter Nemechek vs. Josh Berry


Chase Elliott vs. Austin Dillon


Ross Chastain vs. Erik Jones


Christopher Bell vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.


Chase Briscoe vs. Noah Gragson


Ryan Preece vs. William Byron


Ryan Blaney vs. Carson Hocevar


Kyle Larson vs. Tyler Reddick


Michael McDowell vs. AJ Allmendinger


Ty Gibbs vs. Justin Haley


Zane Smith vs. Austin Cindric


Chris Buescher vs. Todd Gilliland


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Van Gisbergen hoping for another winning NASCAR weekend in Chicago

CHICAGO — The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course. The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back […]

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CHICAGO — The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course.

The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back pocket — providing some flexibility for the 36-year-old New Zealand native as he prepares for the playoffs.

“We’re in a nice position now having won a race,” van Gisbergen said Friday. “And it may change our strategy. If we’re in a position to get a playoff point, we’ll probably try and get that, but that’ll put us deep in the field for the next stage. So yeah, there’s a bit of a toss-up there what we’re going to do, but it’s a nice position to be in.”

Sure is.

Just two years ago, van Gisbergen — a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars — put on a dazzling show in a rainy first edition of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago experiment. Making the most of his extensive street racing experience, he became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

He won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.

“You know, I have great memories here,” van Gisbergen said. “This place has changed my life, so I’m going to have special memories of this place forever.”

Van Gisbergen’s success in Chicago led to a full-time Cup ride with Trackhouse Racing. But the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet is learning his way around NASCAR and he got off to a slow start this season.

While oval tracks remain a challenge, he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots on street and road courses. He posted his second Cup win last month at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

Van Gisbergen is scheduled to compete in both Chicago races this weekend. Next up for NASCAR is another road course at Sonoma Raceway, providing an opportunity to move up from No. 32 in the Cup standings and build up some momentum.

“Road courses are just a bonus for us,” he said. “We know we’re going to be good and we can just focus on trying to get results there.”

Even after two years, the downtown Chicago street course remains a tricky proposition. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile track is narrow and bumpy in spots — to go along with manhole covers, and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back — and there is little room for error in some areas. Rain affected the action in each of the first two weekends, and there could be more showers on Sunday.

Patience is sometimes the best approach, but that only goes so far in NASCAR.

“It’s easy to say that until Shane is out there a second faster than you and you have to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations,” said Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion.

When it comes to van Gisbergen on road courses, Logano said the rest of the Cup Series is “in a way, playing catch-up.” Van Gisbergen said he feels the same way about ovals.

“These guys have been doing left-handers since they were 10 years old,” van Gisbergen said. “You know, they’re two completely different sports, and although there has been road racing in NASCAR forever, it’s not that much. So yeah, just the experience levels are different in what we do. And I feel like, yes, they’ve definitely gotten a lot better since the first one on this track, for sure.”



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Teens compete in push kart race ahead of NASCAR street race | News

CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — Ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race in Grant Park, Chicago kids on Thursday raced push karts on part of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Teens competed on the NASCAR track in Grant Park for the 13th annual X-Stream Push Kart Derby. The winners of this year’s race, the team from […]

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CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — Ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race in Grant Park, Chicago kids on Thursday raced push karts on part of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Teens competed on the NASCAR track in Grant Park for the 13th annual X-Stream Push Kart Derby.

The winners of this year’s race, the team from Columbus Park, built their homemade karts in three days.

Michael Curry, 16, said he and his teammates worked well together.

“Like building the kart brick by brick by brick, and building it together all as a unit, that really helped out chemistry and helped our believing in each other,” he said.

Chicago Park District program specialist Sonica Ruiz said they started the races 13 years ago as part of a STEM program in their camps.

“Our first year, we had about a dozen parks, 12, and now we’re up to 38 parks that are racing,” she said.

For years, the races were held in Garfield Park and Humboldt Park, but in 2022, the Park District teamed up with NASCAR for the inaugural Chicago Street Race.

“Hopefully we have new race car fans. Hopefully some of them are potential are NASCAR Cup Series.

The Chicago Park District said 300 kids have been split up into 20 teams to participate in the 13th annual Push Kart Derby race. Ruiz said this was the first time the teens have been able to race on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

“Last year, they brought NASCAR cars out to us, and this year we’re bringing our karts out to them. So we get to be on the ground. We get to see how the races look pre-race. We get a sneak peek. It’s very exciting,” Ruiz said.

Antwan Curry, 14, pushed his teammate, Michael Curry during the race. He said the derby was an opportunity he’ll never forget.

“I think it’s great. I think it’s really one way to bring the community together. You know, with all the stuff that happens in Chicago, it’s just one thing to distract the kids, like give them something to do, keep them busy, being with the community. I think it’s amazing,” Antwan said.

The Chicago Park District said each year’s race has a theme, and this year they were advocating for the environment.



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Van Gisbergen hoping for another winning NASCAR weekend in Chicago

CHICAGO — The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course. The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back […]

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CHICAGO — The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course.

The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back pocket — providing some flexibility for the 36-year-old New Zealand native as he prepares for the playoffs.

“We’re in a nice position now having won a race,” van Gisbergen said Friday. “And it may change our strategy. If we’re in a position to get a playoff point, we’ll probably try and get that, but that’ll put us deep in the field for the next stage. So yeah, there’s a bit of a toss-up there what we’re going to do, but it’s a nice position to be in.”

Sure is.

Just two years ago, van Gisbergen — a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars — put on a dazzling show in a rainy first edition of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago experiment. Making the most of his extensive street racing experience, he became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

He won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.

“You know, I have great memories here,” van Gisbergen said. “This place has changed my life, so I’m going to have special memories of this place forever.”

Van Gisbergen’s success in Chicago led to a full-time Cup ride with Trackhouse Racing. But the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet is learning his way around NASCAR and he got off to a slow start this season.

While oval tracks remain a challenge, he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots on street and road courses. He posted his second Cup win last month at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

Van Gisbergen is scheduled to compete in both Chicago races this weekend. Next up for NASCAR is another road course at Sonoma Raceway, providing an opportunity to move up from No. 32 in the Cup standings and build up some momentum.

“Road courses are just a bonus for us,” he said. “We know we’re going to be good and we can just focus on trying to get results there.”

Even after two years, the downtown Chicago street course remains a tricky proposition. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile track is narrow and bumpy in spots — to go along with manhole covers, and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back — and there is little room for error in some areas. Rain affected the action in each of the first two weekends, and there could be more showers on Sunday.

Patience is sometimes the best approach, but that only goes so far in NASCAR.

“It’s easy to say that until Shane is out there a second faster than you and you have to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations,” said Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion.

When it comes to van Gisbergen on road courses, Logano said the rest of the Cup Series is “in a way, playing catch-up.” Van Gisbergen said he feels the same way about ovals.

“These guys have been doing left-handers since they were 10 years old,” van Gisbergen said. “You know, they’re two completely different sports, and although there has been road racing in NASCAR forever, it’s not that much. So yeah, just the experience levels are different in what we do. And I feel like, yes, they’ve definitely gotten a lot better since the first one on this track, for sure.”



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Forza Motorsport Development Team at Turn 10 Reportedly Shut Down

by William D’Angelo , posted 15 hours ago / 1,738 Views The massive Microsoft layoffs yesterday saw many Xbox subsidiaries see at least some layoffs with some seeing 100 or more people let go. One of the studios with the biggest cuts is Turn 10 that reportedly saw nearly 50 percent of its staff laid off. Former […]

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Forza Motorsport Development Team at Turn 10 Reportedly Shut Down

by
William D’Angelo
, posted 15 hours ago / 1,738 Views

The massive Microsoft layoffs yesterday saw many Xbox subsidiaries see at least some layoffs with some seeing 100 or more people let go. One of the studios with the biggest cuts is Turn 10 that reportedly saw nearly 50 percent of its staff laid off.

Former Turn 10 employee Fred Russell in a post on Facebook is now claiming the Forza Motorsport team has been shut down.

Turn 10 Studios has shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more,” said Russell. “A very sad day for one of the best car racing video games. I loved my time there.”

If this is true the remaining employees are likely going to focus on updating ForzaTech and will act as more of a support studio for Playground Games on the Forza Horizon series.

The last entry in the Forza Motorsport series was 2023’s Forza Motorsport.


A life-long and avid gamer, William D’Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.

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Team Penske announces replacement Managers

Team Penske announced today a new leadership structure for the organization’s championship-winning INDYCAR and Sports Car programs. Two of the team’s longtime associates that have experience across both programs will officially transition to their new roles, beginning this weekend. Related Article:  IndyCar News: Penske sacks top personnel over cheating scandal Jonathan Diuguid (pictured) has been promoted […]

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Team Penske announced today a new leadership structure for the organization’s championship-winning INDYCAR and Sports Car programs.

Two of the team’s longtime associates that have experience across both programs will officially transition to their new roles, beginning this weekend.

Related Article:  IndyCar News: Penske sacks top personnel over cheating scandal

Jonathan Diuguid (pictured) has been promoted to President of Penske Racing, Inc., and Travis Law has been named Competition Director for Penske Racing, Inc.

Diuguid and Law bring a combined 38 years of experience at Team Penske that will serve them well as they look to build on the organization’s legacy of motorsports success. In their new roles, Diuguid and Law will oversee the Team Penske teams competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES (INDYCAR), as well as Porsche Penske Motorsport, which races in both the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (IMSA) and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Most recently, both Diuguid and Law served in leadership positions for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

Travis Law

As the Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, Diuguid led the global sports car program to consecutive wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona (2024, 2025), a victory in the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring, a championship in IMSA’s GTP Class last season and the 2024 WEC Hypercar driver’s crown – all achieved in less than three seasons. Since joining Team Penske in 2005, the Raleigh, North Carolina native has gained valuable experience, first working on the team’s Porsche RS Spyder program followed by seven successful seasons as a race engineer for the organization’s INDYCAR SERIES teams before taking on his most recent leadership role with Porsche Penske Motorsport.

“The opportunity to lead the Team Penske efforts across the INDYCAR SERIES, IMSA and WEC is a tremendous responsibility, and the feeling of being trusted to lead these teams is a great honor,” said Diuguid. “After two decades working for Roger Penske, I truly know and understand what the Penske name means in the world of motorsports. The best way I know to show my appreciation to him for his trust is to ensure our success continues well into the future.”

Law represents another shining example of the organic growth and advancement that has been cultivated throughout the Penske organization. The Maquoketa, Iowa native has also been a key contributor to the success of Team Penske’s INDYCAR and Sports Car programs in recent years. After beginning his Team Penske career in 2007 as an INDYCAR tire specialist, Law rose through the ranks to become a championship-winning chief mechanic in the INDYCAR SERIES before enjoying the same success in sports car competition. Law most recently served as Competition Director for Porsche Penske Motorsport before earning a promotion to his new role with the organization.

“Success is what is expected at Team Penske,” stated Law. “Roger Penske is someone that leads by example. When we get to the racetrack, we know we have the support of someone who has achieved at the highest levels. I am ready to get to work.”

The NASCAR leadership structure for Penske Racing South remains unchanged with Michael Nelson serving as President, Penske Racing South and Travis Geisler continuing his role at Vice President of Competition, Penske Racing South. Nelson and Geisler bring nearly 50 years of team experience in leading the five-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series championship team.

The 2025 INDYCAR SERIES season continues with this weekend’s race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sunday, July 7 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Porsche Penske Motorsport will return to action on Sunday, July 13 with the World Endurance Championship race in São Paulo, Brazil while the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season resumes on Sunday, August 3 at Road America



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NASCAR Chicago street full weekend track schedule, TV schedule for Grant Park 165, other races

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to the Chicago street course for the third straight season this weekend. The Xfinity Series will practice, qualify and race in The Loop 110 on July 5, with Shane van Gisbergen in the field for the first time this year. Advertisement The Cup Series will practice and […]

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The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to the Chicago street course for the third straight season this weekend.

The Xfinity Series will practice, qualify and race in The Loop 110 on July 5, with Shane van Gisbergen in the field for the first time this year.

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The Cup Series will practice and qualify also on July 5 for the next day’s Grant Park 165. For the first time since 2018 in a non-Daytona 500 race, there will be one driver to DNQ. 41 drivers are entered for 40 starting spots.

Here is the full on-track schedule in Chicago:

NASCAR Chicago street on-track schedule, TV schedule for the Grant Park 165

All times Central; on-track activity at the Chicago street course unless otherwise detailed.

Saturday, July 5

9:30 am. — NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, CW app

12 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying, truTV (Watch FREE on Fubo)

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3:30 p.m. — The Loop 110 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (50 laps, 110 miles), CW Network (Watch FREE on Fubo)

Sunday, July 6

1 p.m. — Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race (75 laps, 165 miles), TNT (Watch FREE on Fubo) and MAX (in-car cameras)

NASCAR Chicago street news, stories

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IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT UPDATE: NASCAR in-season tournament results: First round winners, Chicago street matchups set

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Chicago full weekend schedule, TV schedule for Cup Series race



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