NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland Speedway for First Time Since 2019 offers some perspective on the legendary track’s return to action this weekend.By Reid Scearce
For three consecutive summers, the thrills of NASCAR have been brought through downtown Chicago and the 90-degree turns of Grant Park. However, this Fourth of July weekend, race fans can look forward to the highly anticipated return of Chicagoland Speedway.
Here is Taz’s In-Season Tournament Bracket. Be sure to submit your completed bracket to the Facebook Messenger for Fan4Racing Blog And RadioThe 110 Nation Sports or Race Chat Liveby 11:30 pm ET on Saturday, June 27th to be eligible to play. Anything submitted after that date and time will NOT count.
Final Ranking after the Three Seeding Races
Larson (4.00)
Hamlin (5.33)
Buescher (7.33)
Wallace (8.67)
Blaney (9.00)
Jones (9.33)
Chastain (10.33)
Suarez (10.67)
Nemechek (11.33)
Herbst (12.33)
Briscoe (13.00)
Allmendinger (14.67)
Hocevar (14.67)
Cindric (15.67)
Gibbs (16.33)
Byron (17.67)
McDowell(17.67)
Elliott (18.33)
Logano (19.67)
Reddick (20.67)
Gilliland (20.67)
Preece (22.33)
Custer (22.33)
Bowman (24.00)
Z Smith (24.67)
Hill (24.67)
Ware (25.33)
Stenhouse Jr (25.67)
Berry (25.67)
A Dillon (28.33
T Dillon (28.67)
Bell (32.00)
Zilisch (32.33)
Gragson (32.33)
SVG (33.00)
Keselowski (35.33)
Tiebreakers from the Rankings
12 seed -Both AJ and Carson had a best of finish of 5th. Allmendinger had the next best finish of 17th to Hocevar’s 19th \
16 seed -Byron’s best finish was 3rd at Pocono vs McDowell’s tenth at San Diego
20 seed -Reddick’s best finish was 2nd at Pocono vs Gilliland’s 19th at Pocono
22 seed -Preece’s best finish was 11th at San Diego vs Custer’s 12th at Michigan
25 seed -Zane’s best finish was 4th at San Diego vs Hill’s 18th at Pocono
28 seed -Stenhouse and Berry had the same exact finishes amongst the 3 races (15th, 29th, 33rd). Coin flip decided who got the better seed
NASCAR started its first-ever In-Season Challenge in 2025. It’s coming back in 2026 with a small twist.
NASCAR is not having three ‘seeding races’ to determine which drivers will. earn, what seed for the knockout stages. I, Taz Taylor, say for 2026 bring back the “seeding races!”
Fan4Racing (F4R)l 110 Nation, and Race Chat Live (RCL) want to challenge YOU, THE FANS!!!
Here is how the tournament will work
Michigan, Pocono, and San Diego are the seeding races.
Drivers will race to earn the best position possible to get themselves the best seed in the knockout rounds.
The top 32 drivers with the BEST AVERAGE FINISH of the three seeding races will qualify for the knockout rounds.
After the San Diego race, the knockout bracket will be released for YOU, THE FANS, to fill out (released on Monday, June 22nd)
All you have to do is pick which driver will do better than the other in the matchup, similar to March Madness basketball.
Whether it is one of us at F4R, 110, or RCL, or if it is one of you fans that score the most points in the tournament, YOU WILL BE THE CHAMPION!
The Points Breakdown
Round of 32 correct picks = 10 points
Super 16 correct picks = 20 points
Elite 8 correct picks = 40 points
Fast 4 correct picks = 80 points
Championship Final correct picks = 160 points
* Tiebreaker: What position will the In-Season Tournament champion finish?
Play Both In-Season Challenge by NASCAR and Taz’s In-Season Tournament
For NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge details, go to the NASCAR Website