William Byron, Denny Hamlin Earn Top Initial NASCAR In-Season Challenge Odds

The NASCAR Cup Series remains poised to kick off its next gimmick, the In-Season Challenge.

Beginning Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway, the set-up pits 32 drivers in head-to-head races within the stock-car event. The drivers will compete in elimination-style matches over the next five weeks, but it will not affect the points standings.

The winner will receive $1 million.

Cup points leader William Byron and Denny Hamlin were tabbed as tournament favorites with +500 odds to top the podium, according to BetOnline Sportsbook. Kyle Larson drew +525 odds.

🗣️ "I don't see huge decisions being made because of it this week."@joeylogano doesn't think the In Season Challenge will affect strategy much this weekend at @EchoParkSpdwy.

Full Hour –> https://t.co/keYsFmunJW pic.twitter.com/JJNRTylcat

— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) June 25, 2025

Ex-Cup Series Team Owner Larry McClure Passes Away At 81

Larry McClure, a former co-owner of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, died Wednesday in Abingdon, Virginia, according to a family statement. He was 81.

Starting in 1983, McClure, along with brother Jerry McClure and Tim Morgan, launched a part-time Cup operation. Larry McClure and Morgan previously owned car dealerships.

“Larry and I began our business partnership in 1980 when we bought a Chevrolet dealership together in Southwest Virginia,” Morgan said in a statement. “Our friendship, which grew out of a shared love for automobiles and the automobile business, started long before that. Over the years, we expanded, and Larry’s brothers Ed, Jerry, and Teddy joined the business. As small-town guys, we were naive enough to believe we could compete in the world of NASCAR. And with the Lord’s blessing, we were able to achieve far more than anyone thought was possible.”

Morgan-McClure Motorsports’ peak came with Sterling Marlin as the pilot, earning consecutive Daytona 500 titles in 1994 and ‘95. The organization closed its shop in 2007.

My heart hurts finding out Larry McClure passed away. He took a chance on me saying “I know you’ll drive the hell out of it.” He gave me a fast race car & back to back Daytona 500s. He was innovative, smart & a hell of a guy. Glad i got to see him last year. gonna miss him pic.twitter.com/b538TPYe5O

— Sterling Marlin (@SMR_114) June 25, 2025

2025 NASCAR In-Season Challenge Odds     

Here is a Week 1 look at the initial Cup Series drivers’ odds for the 2025 NASCAR In-Season Challenge, according to BetOnline Sportsbook: 

*-Odds current at time of publication