Ryan Blaney loses $1 million chance after Indianapolis crash

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series In‑Season Challenge championship round saw Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland contend for a $1 million prize. Blaney, who entered the Brickyard 400 leading the challenge, spun on lap 120 after contact with John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Toyota, dropping from a potential victory to a 26th‑place finish.

The incident eliminated Blaney’s chance at the top‑payoff, while Gilliland, who started deep in the pack, finished 24th and secured the In‑Season Challenge championship. The race featured a multi‑car wreck involving several drivers, but the primary storyline centered on Blaney’s frustrated radio outburst and the shift in championship standings resulting from the crash.