Ty Dillon’s Magical NASCAR Run Ends, Monaco GP but for WRC, and Aprilia Fights On

🏁 Ty Dillon’s Million-Dollar NASCAR Dream Comes to a Close at Indy

Ty Dillon might not have left Indianapolis Motor Speedway with $1 million, but he won over fans during one of the most unlikely runs we’ve seen in recent NASCAR history. Entering the In-Season Bracket Challenge as the bottom seed, Dillon stunned the field with a string of David vs. Goliath victories, knocking out the likes of Chase Elliott on his way to the final. But in the showdown of the “Tys,” it was Ty Gibbs who ended the run.

Gibbs had track position from the start, while Dillon was buried deep in the pack and ultimately got caught in a messy stack-up during a restart. Damage to the nose of his car killed straight-line speed, and by the time rain brought out the red flag with four laps to go, he was three laps down in 30th. Gibbs, who finished 21st, still walked away with the $1 million prize, and even pledged $10,000 of it to a charity of Dillon’s choice.

NASCAR recently stated the 1 Million Dollars goes to the team not the driver

Despite the tough finish, Dillon reflected with pride on what he accomplished. “If all things are equal and we don’t knock the nose off, we probably would’ve put some pressure on him,” he said. “It just didn’t work out that way, it’s disappointing.” Still, his run reminded everyone that on the right day, with the right breaks, even a longshot can steal the spotlight.

🏎️ Monaco’s F1 Circuit Could Return to WRC in 2026

In rally news, the Monte Carlo Rally which is the WRC’s traditional season-openerr, might be getting a major facelift for 2026. Organizers are working on bringing back a super special stage that would use part of the Monaco Grand Prix F1 circuit, something that hasn’t been done since 2008. The stage would run on the lower section of the track and is tentatively set as the final stage of Saturday’s leg.

This move would also shift the rally's base from Gap to Monte Carlo earlier in the weekend than usual. If approved, it could make for one of the most visually iconic stages in modern rallying, putting WRC machines on the same tarmac as Formula 1.

Oliver Solberg went viral for drifting the Monaco Hairpin earlier this year

The rest of the 2026 Monte Carlo Rally will remain packed with classic French Alpine asphalt, including the La Bollène-Vésubie and Col de Braus stages. Organizers also revealed a new 30.1km test at La Bréole/Bellaffaire, continuing the event’s mix of new and historic challenges. A final decision on the Monaco stage is still pending, but fans are already buzzing at the thought of rally cars tearing through the Principality once again.

🏍️ Aprilia Avoids MotoGP Demotion, But Misses Out on Perks

Meanwhile, MotoGP’s midseason factory reshuffling has left Aprilia in a bittersweet spot. After scoring enough points at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno, the Italian manufacturer has avoided dropping into Group D, the lowest category for technical concessions. That’s a good thing in theory, but Group D teams (like Yamaha and Honda) now gain extra testing, engine development, and fairing updates that Aprilia will no longer be eligible for.

Team boss Paolo Bonora was clear: they’re not upset. “We want to beat the top teams, not gain by falling behind,” he told TNT Sports. Aprilia has become Ducati’s biggest challenger in recent weeks, with Marco Bezzecchi winning at Silverstone and Jorge Martin returning strong after injury. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori has played a key role too, helping to develop the bike while Martin recovered.

Still, some wonder if staying in Group C was the right move. The extra laps and parts development might’ve been valuable, especially for a team still chasing consistency. But Aprilia remains confident in their rider-first approach and incremental development strategy, and they’re not wrong to believe they can keep closing the gap to Ducati the hard way.