New for 2026: NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million
The Official Lottery Game of NASCAR debuts all new chase-style promotion for the 2026 season
JOHNSTON, Iowa (Feb. 11, 2026) – NASCAR® and Powerball® are excited to announce an all-new way for race enthusiasts and lottery players to experience NASCAR racing while winning cash prizes! Today, the partners unveiled their latest entertainment collaboration: NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million.
The national Powerball promotion gives lottery players the chance to collect cash prizes through a series of drawings during The Chase. The promotion will culminate with four lottery players winning a VIP trip for two to NASCAR Championship Weekend™ Miami, Nov. 6-8, 2026, where one player will win $1 million in a special drawing televised live on NBC before the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship™ race.
"The recent changes to NASCAR's championship format gave us an incredible opportunity to reimagine this winning experience for our players," said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. "This is a chance to enjoy an all-new VIP destination for Championship Weekend and collect cash prizes throughout The Chase – just like sport's top drivers collect points."
"NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million brings the intensity and excitement of our new championship to life in a way only NASCAR can," said Michelle Byron, Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership & Licensing Officer at NASCAR. "By aligning this promotion with the drama of The Chase and culminating in a live, on-air moment during Championship Weekend, we're creating a one-of-a-kind experience that connects fans and players directly to the heart of our sport." Lottery players can enter the national Powerball promotion through participating lotteries. Lotteries will hold in-state promotions and second-chance drawings throughout the 2026 NASCAR regular season. Entry periods and method of entry will vary by lottery. At the end of the regular season, all participating lotteries will submit one semi-finalist to take part in NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million.
Each lottery semi-finalist will win $2,000 for reaching the start of The Chase. Each time a semi-finalist advances through a drawing, they will collect an additional cash prize. In the third drawing, the four players who advance will win a VIP trip for two to NASCAR Championship Weekend Miami and entry into the $1 million drawing.
The results of each drawing will be revealed during select race broadcasts, beginning with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway®.
| Round | Semi-Finalists | Prize | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Promotions | 1 semi-finalist per lottery | $2,000 | 9/6 Darlington |
| Drawing 1 | 20 advance | $3,000 | 9/27 Kansas |
| Drawing 2 | 10 advance | $5,000 | 10/18 Phoenix |
| Drawing 3 | 4 advance | VIP trip valued at $10,000 | 11/1 Martinsville |
| Drawing 4 | Live $1 million drawing |
$1 million winner: three $10,000 winners |
11/8 Homestead |
The VIP trip includes roundtrip airfare for two to Miami, three nights hotel accommodations – double occupancy, two Ally Pit Box at Homestead passes for both the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Part Series Championship Race on Nov. 7 and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Nov. 8, two passes for VIP experiences at Homestead-Miami Speedway during NASCAR Championship Weekend including NASCAR Cup Series™ VIP access, NASCAR team hauler tour, MRN radio booth tour, pace car rides, Victory Lane access, all meals, and ground transportation to scheduled events and activities.
Players should stay tuned to their local lotteries for more information on how to enter. Participating lotteries include Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana (Hoosier), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont. Additional lotteries may join the Powerball promotion later.
Players can also follow the NASCAR Powerball – The Chase on Facebook, Instagram, and online at Powerball.com.
Last year, Kansas Lottery player Francisco Erives, a Staff Sergeant in the Kansas Army National Guard, was declared the $1 million winner in a special drawing broadcast live from Phoenix Raceway® before the start of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship™ Race.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season officially begins this Sunday with live action of the DAYTONA 500 from Daytona International Speedway. The race will air live at 2:30 p.m. EST on FOX, HBO max, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.