Winner Takes All: Ty Gibbs, Ty Dillon Battle for $1M in NASCAR Tournament
Now, Dillon faces Ty Gibbs this weekend at Indianapolis to decide the first winner of the tournament and the $1 million prize that comes with it.
Hamlin said the five-race, bracket-style tournament overall was a success — but not without a few kinks. Some of the seeding was off, such as Shane van Gisbergen not qualifying for the field, then ripping off consecutive wins on the Chicago street race and Sonoma Raceway during the tournament races.
And sure, everyone loves a Cinderella in March. But two in July isn't necessarily making the tournament the NASCAR story of the summer.
"I think it has been unfortunate, right, you probably had a lot of the top seeds get knocked out pretty early in it, but overall, I thought the implementation of it has been good," Hamlin said.
The other side of the argument is this: Would any fan or media outlet really care about a pair of winless drivers such as Gibbs (the sixth seed) or Dillon at this point of the season without $1 million at stake?
"For a team like us, at this point in the season, we're not exactly where we want to be yet, but we're trending in a good direction," Dillon said Sunday at Dover. "Our story doesn't get told in years past. It's mainly the guys trying to fight for the points position. It's the guys running up front, trying to win the race. But our story and our growth in the year stops getting told. I'm grateful we've been able to show our personality as a team."
Unlike the All-Star race where the winner pockets $1 million, the driver with the best finish earns the cash prize, a ring, jackets and a trophy.
Dillon had luck on his side during his run, with his lone top-10 finish coming in the first race in Atlanta. He advanced in that race after Hamlin crashed out and finished 31st. Dillon twice has finished 20th, including at Dover. He has a best finish of 13th in five career races on the Indy oval.
Gibbs, the grandson of team owner and football and NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, and Dillon have failed to win in a combined 374 Cup races. Dillon has only two career top-five finishes in a career that dates to 2014. The 22-year-old Gibbs has a much better pedigree, winning the 2022 Xfinity Series title, a series in which he was a 12-time winner. He has six top 10s already this season and could make NASCAR's playoffs on points.
Gibbs has three straight top 10s in the tournament, including a fifth-place finish at Dover. Gibbs finished 23rd on the Indy oval last season.
He's done enough to impress his grandfather.
"There's some people there that we got off to a terrible start, it was awful, (but) I had people on that group that came to me encouraging me, ideas for me, after it. I think they care for Ty. It just was a huge deal," the 84-year-old Gibbs said. "This sport will really measure you. But those guys have fought back."
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch New York Mets vs San Francisco Giants: Live Stream MLB, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Mets are at the top of the National League East thanks to a six-game winning streak. They will go for their seventh win in a row on Sunday night in this series finale against the San Francisco Giants. Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants gets the out at second base of Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on July... Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants gets the out at second base of Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. More Photo byHow to Watch Mets vs Giants Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM EDT Channel: ESPN, ESPN Stream: Fubo (Start Watching!) After losing their first two games after the All-Star break, New York has been one of the hottest teams in baseball. However, the Mets still hold just a half-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. San Francisco sits seven games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West lead. The Giants are just 2-6 since the All-Star break. The problem for the Giants in this series is their offense. The Giants' bats have been shut down this series, with the team managing just two runs in the first two games of the series. The Mets will look to Kodai Senga on Sunday night to continue the winning streak. The righty is 7-3 with an impeccable 1.79 ERA. The Giants will start Matt Gage, who is looking for his first win of the season after three outings. Live stream MLB games all season long on Fubo, including nationally televised games on ESPN, FOX, and MLB Network, plus have access to regional sports networks and the add-on. Start your free trial now to get started watching the baseball action. Live stream the New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants game on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Padres' Trade Deadline Takes Wild Turn After Red Sox's Jarren Duran Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The San Diego Padres desperately need to add an outfielder to fill the massive void in left field. They've been closely linked to a trade for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but no deal has come to fruition to this point. Still, it seems like the Padres have been all in to land Duran. He would come with All-Star potential and team control on his contract, two things the Padres desperately need. While the Padres have stayed closely linked to Duran, USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently suggested the Red Sox had no plans of trading the All-Star outfielder in the coming days. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 18: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 18: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois."The Boston Red Sox have no plans to trade outfielder Jarren Duran at the deadline, rejecting the San Diego Padres' offers, and are more likely to move him this winter," Nightengale wrote. This report is a crushing blow to the Padres and their fans. Adding Duran would have been the perfect deadline addition for the Padres to make as they try to chase down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the loaded National League West. San Diego could still pursue a trade for Duran in the offseason if it wants to. But for now, the front office will need to pivot to a different option. Luis Robert Jr. and Adolis Garcia are two change-of-scenery candidates the Padres could pursue. Neither guy has been great this season, but it would be a lot more affordable to trade for one of them than Duran. Either way, a trade needs to be made in the coming days. The Padres need to find a solution for the biggest hole on their roster. More MLB: Mitch Keller Blockbuster? Blue Jays Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak
Fox News
20 minutes ago
- Fox News
NASCAR driver Aric Almirola blasts Austin Hill over 'intentional' crash: 'That was violent'
NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill and Aric Almirola got into a nasty wreck during the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Hill and Almirola were coming around a turn with 10 laps to go in the race. Almirola got into the back of Hill and sent him sliding up the track. Almirola tried to go around him, but Hill came down and sent Almirola spinning to the wall. Almirola hit the wall hard while Hill spun in the grass before coming back up the track and making contact with the wall as well. Hill was hit with a five-lap penalty because of the controversial hit. He told his team over the radio that it hadn't been intentional. Almirola disagreed. "It was definitely intentional," Almirola told the CW after being released from the infield care center, via "He blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in (Turn) 3. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners. It was time to go. I mean, we're coming to nine to go, and the leaders are starting to put a gap on us, so it's time to go." Almirola was uninjured, but he said the crash reminded him of a 2017 wreck in which he had broken his back. "That was violent, to be totally honest," he added. "That's one of the hardest hits I've taken in my NASCAR career. The impact felt very similar to when I broke my back. I'd be very interested to see the black-box data from that crash, but it was vicious, and that's just uncalled for." Hill told his team he couldn't hang onto the car as he was getting loose. Team owner Richard Childress defended Hill and doesn't think he should be suspended over it. "(NASCAR) didn't do a damn thing to (Austin Cindric). He wrecked (Ty Dillon) and admitted to it, drove him in the right rear, and wrecked him at COTA," Childress said, via Motorsports Wire. "It's who you are. We're a blue-collar team. They give us trouble all the time." Connor Zilisch picked up the victory.
