Starting at next weekend's Quaker State 400 in Atlanta, the NASCAR Cup Series will be following the lead of other sports leagues -- from European soccer to the NBA -- by launching its own in-season tournament to spice up the regular-season schedule.
Seeding for the inaugural In-Season Challenge came from a three-race stretch (Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono), using a mix of highest finishes and points earned. Now, 32 drivers are locked into one big single-elimination bracket, ready to square off head-to-head until one is crowned champion -- and handed a $1 million check.