Denny Hamlin, a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner of 23XI Racing, proposed the idea of an in-season NASCAR tournament, which has now been officially announced by NASCAR. The new tournament is set to debut in 2025 and will consist of five races, coinciding with TNT and Amazon Prime's NASCAR coverage. The winner of the tournament will be awarded a prize of $1 million.
The concept of an in-season tournament has been a topic of discussion within the NASCAR industry, and the collaboration with Prime Video and TNT Sports aims to enhance fan engagement and bring innovation to the sport. The tournament seeding will be determined during Prime's final three events, with the top 32 drivers becoming eligible for the three-race tournament during TNT's part of the schedule.
The 2025 Cup Series schedule is yet to be revealed, and the seeding for the tournament will be based on the best finish in the three races leading up to it. Tiebreakers will be decided by a driver's second-best finish in that stretch and their overall points earned up to that point in the season.
TNT Sports' executive vice president and chief content officer expressed excitement about the new competitive dynamic the tournament will bring to NASCAR's summer race weekends. Amazon, as a new partner, sees the tournament as an opportunity to engage fans and showcase innovation within the league.
In addition to the tournament, TNT's races will be available for streaming on the B/R Sports Add-On on Max. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently announced his role as an analyst for both of NASCAR's new broadcast partners, Prime and TNT, who have secured a deal with NASCAR through the 2031 season.
The introduction of the in-season tournament marks a significant development in NASCAR's efforts to enhance fan experience and drive excitement throughout the season, ultimately aiming to create a more engaging and competitive environment for both drivers and fans alike.
