Neither Ty Dillon nor Ty Gibbs will directly receive the $1 million prize in NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge, despite reaching the final round. This surprising revelation comes ahead of the weekend’s showdown in Indianapolis, where the two drivers — who triumphed in earlier head-to-head matchups — will face off for the win.
Gibbs, racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, bested Tyler Reddick by finishing seven spots ahead at fifth place. Dillon, representing Kaulig Racing, knocked out big names like Denny Hamlin and edged past John Hunter Nemechek. However, the much-hyped financial reward won’t go straight into the drivers’ pockets.
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Teams Control the Cash in NASCAR’s New Format
According to FOX Sports, the $1 million prize will go to the winning driver’s team, not the driver. That means either Joe Gibbs Racing or Kaulig Racing will receive the full amount and determine how much, if any, the driver receives.
For Gibbs, winning the tournament would be a major boost to his Cup Series career, which has lacked consistency since his Xfinity Series days. “We had a good day and a strong finish… it just worked in our way,” Gibbs said.
Team owner Joe Gibbs, also his grandfather, praised the resilience of Gibbs and his pit crew. “When you see somebody go through some real tough stuff, this sport will really measure you… those guys just kept fighting,” he stated.
On the other hand, Dillon called his run “a dream,” admitting he was surprised to make it this far. “I’m a little bit shook by how it all shook out,” he said.
Even Denny Hamlin, who was knocked out by Dillon and had advocated for the tournament, admitted, “He beat me… Just let him have his moment.”
So while bragging rights are on the line in Indy, the million-dollar question remains: how much of that prize money will the winning driver actually see?
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