Joey Logano doesn’t easily forget a lost million-dollar opportunity. After finishing second and losing the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race prize money, the Team Penske driver now sees NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge as the perfect opportunity for redemption.
The In-Season Challenge is NASCAR’s newest midseason tournament, a single-elimination format featuring the top 32 drivers based on points accumulated after the June 30 race in Nashville. Seedings are determined by the best finish in three qualifying races: Michigan (June 8), Mexico City (June 16), and Pocono (June 22). For Logano, the stakes are familiar and motivating.
Logano told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: “With this midseason tournament, there’s a million dollars on the line. That’s enough to get me going. I don’t need more. You saw how upset I was in the All-Star Race. It’s the same number. So I’m going to be here.”
Earlier this year at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Logano and Christopher Bell competed intensely for a million-dollar prize. Although Logano led the most laps in the race (139), Bell rallied from sixth to first, pushing Logano with 10 laps remaining to snatch the win and the money.
Now, Logano has another opportunity in the In-Season Challenge, which takes place over five races broadcast on TNT and streamed on Max. The field begins at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta (June 29), with the winners of each matchup advancing through Chicago (July 6), Sonoma (July 14), and Dover (July 20). The final two drivers will face off at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27 for the $1 million prize.
Logano expressed enthusiasm for this format: “I’m excited; I think it’s a great thing. It gives us something to talk about this time of year, outside of teams trying to make the playoffs or those already in the playoffs. I think it’s a great idea, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”
Furthermore, Logano expressed his hope that this challenge will continue in future seasons to increase interest during the mid-season.
As for his championship standings, Logano sits in 27th place after two qualifying races, having finished outside the top 20 at Michigan and Mexico City, which could pit him against Chase Elliott in the opening round. However, he still has a chance to improve his seeding at Pocono.
Logano won at Texas in April, securing his playoff spot, allowing him to focus on this challenge without worrying about points. Denny Hamlin leads the standings despite missing Mexico City for the birth of his child, followed by Chris Buescher and Christopher Bell.
Regarding Pocono, Logano told ESPN that it’s a tricky track, with a 2.5-mile triangular shape and very different corners, making it difficult to set up the car to perform well in every corner. He has a record of one win in 29 starts at the track, but with the $1 million incentive up for grabs, he’s motivated to change that statistic.
The race at Pocono, called The Great American Gateway 400, will be held on June 22 at 2:00 PM ET.
In short, after the frustration of losing the NASCAR All-Star Race, Joey Logano is determined to make the most of the new In-Season Challenge, an innovative tournament in the NASCAR regular season with a $1 million prize pool, which offers him a second chance at a big win and keeps the excitement alive in the middle of the racing schedule.
