NASCAR In-Season Tournament: Elite Eight Set for Showdown at Sonoma
The inaugural NASCAR in-season tournament has reached its elite eight, promising an intense competition as drivers vie for a coveted spot in the final four. This weekend at Sonoma Raceway, two Legacy Motor Club drivers, Alex Bowman and Ty Dillon, will face off, ensuring one of them advances.
Joining them in the tournament are Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing and a mix of underdogs, including Zane Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones, Ryan Preece, and Tyler Reddick. The previous rounds saw notable contenders such as Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Chris Buescher eliminated, highlighting the tournament’s unpredictability.
Ty Dillon has emerged as a significant upset artist, having knocked out top seed Denny Hamlin and No. 17 seed Keselowski in earlier rounds.
The third-round matchups are as follows:
- (No. 6) Ty Gibbs vs. (No. 14) Zane Smith
- (No. 8) Alex Bowman vs. (No. 32) Ty Dillon
- (No. 12) John Hunter Nemechek vs. (No. 20) Erik Jones
- (No. 15) Ryan Preece vs. (No. 23) Tyler Reddick
Sonoma will be pivotal, cutting the field to four and bringing the drivers closer to the $1 million prize awaiting at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race begins Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
