On the final lap, Dillon gave Bowman a bump in the hairpin, pushing the HMS driver up the track. There was more contact on corner exit, but he passed him mere seconds before they reached the finish line. With that move, he ensured his advancement into the semi-finals with just four drivers left in the entire tournament.

Ty Dillon and Alex Bowman spoke after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma, after Dillon defeated Bowman in the in-season bracket matchup. Kaulig Racing shared a video of the conversation, and at the end,

Based on his performance in three qualifying races, the chances of Ty Dillon making a deep run in the inaugural In-Season Challenge were slim. All he needed was an opportunity. After entering the tournament as the final seed -- No.