The NASCAR In-Season Challenge has produced several surprise results. And heading into the finale, Todd Gilliland's performance is the biggest talking point. After upsetting Chase Elliott on Sunday at North Wilkesboro, he is now gearing up to take on Ryan Blaney at the Brickyard 400.

During the Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro on Sunday, Gilliland beat Chase Elliott in the fourth round of the NASCAR In-season Challenge after Elliott got trapped a lap down under caution. While he was on pit road, Alex Bowman collided with Tyler Reddick on Lap 183, bringing out said caution. 

Despite that disadvantage, the Front Row Motorsports driver was going to be hard to beat because he finished in eighth place to Elliott’s 17th-place finish. When talking to NASCAR reporter Steven Taranato, Gilliland was asked about this battle and the "luck" involved.

"You never really know what would have happened," Gilliland replied. "We still, I think, finished eighth or ninth, something like that. So it's still a great night for us. You never know how the cards are gonna fall, and that's racing. That's why you've got to stick it out and just run every lap to the best of your ability."

NASCAR’s five-race In-Season Challenge with a 32-driver bracket, which began at Sonoma and culminates in a $1 million prize for the winner in Indianapolis, has reached the final round. 

Todd Gilliland is pitted against Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney. Looking ahead to the final round, Gilliland admitted he will need another strong performance to win the ultimate prize. 

"Indy, I think I finished sixth in the last two years, so we're probably gonna need even better than that to beat the 12 (Blaney). You never know, we'll try our best."

As rightly pointed out by Gilliland, in his last two outings at the Brickyard, he has finished in sixth. In 2024, he started the race in 24th place before gaining 18 places, and in 2025, he earned the same result from 19th.

Will the same luck follow him this year and help him win the $1M prize? Only time will tell. 

Ryan Blaney eyes $1 million prize at Indianapolis

Ryan Blaney had a bittersweet weekend at North Wilkesboro. Even before the race began, he was hit with a penalty for unapproved changes after qualifying. So, instead of pole, he started from the back of the pack.

Moreover, during the race, he was hit with a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit road. Despite all these adversities, he finished the race in 11th. He beat his opponent, Christopher Bell, who finished 19th, to advance towards the $1 million prize.

In a statement on Ford Racing's website, Blaney acknowledged Ford's supremacy and the challenge from Todd Gilliland. 

"The Blue Oval is gonna win the In-Season Challenge. It’ll be a good race." Blaney said via the Ford website. "That group at FRM does a really good job, and Todd is a really talented race car driver, so it’ll be a tough one."

Blaney also pointed out Brickyard’s unpredictable nature, but expressed his delight about two Fords making it to the in-season challenge finale. 

"Indy, a lot of strategy goes on there, and a lot of things can happen, so we’re gonna have to be on top of our game like every week. But it’s nice that a couple of Blue Ovals have a shot at it."

With two Ford drivers contesting for the $1 Million, NASCAR's Brickyard 400 is bound to be an interesting race.

Read more at Daytona Racing Digest!  

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak