Powerball and NASCAR: Partnership, Playoff & $1 Million Chase

Powerball became NASCAR's Official Lottery Game in 2023. Since then, the partnership has created national lottery promotions, televised $1 million drawings, VIP championship experiences and a redesigned 2026 Chase to $1 Million.

Official sports partnership

What is the relationship between Powerball and NASCAR?

NASCAR announced in February 2023 that Powerball had become an Official Partner of NASCAR and the Official Lottery Game of NASCAR. NASCAR described the agreement as a partnership built around fan experiences, national lottery promotions and the two organisations' shared emphasis on community funding.

The first major activation was the NASCAR Powerball Playoff. Participating state lotteries selected players into a national pool, after which a series of drawings mirrored NASCAR's own playoff rounds. Four finalists received a VIP trip to Championship Weekend, where one player won $1 million in a drawing broadcast live around the Cup Series championship.

The concept returned in 2024 and 2025. For 2026, NASCAR and Powerball redesigned it as NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million, reflecting NASCAR's revised championship format.

Quick facts

The partnership in four numbers

2023Year Powerball became NASCAR's Official Lottery Game.
$1 millionTop prize in the national NASCAR Powerball promotion.
28 lotteriesParticipated in the 2025 NASCAR Powerball Playoff.
NBCCarried the live championship-stage $1 million drawing.
Year by year

How the NASCAR Powerball promotion developed

The core idea remained consistent for three seasons before being reworked for 2026.

2023 · Launch

The first NASCAR Powerball Playoff

The inaugural promotion mirrored the NASCAR playoff field: 16 lottery players progressed through elimination drawings to a Championship 4. Four finalists won a VIP trip to Phoenix Raceway and one received the $1 million grand prize.

  • 24 lotteries participated.
  • Elimination announcements were tied to Daytona, Bristol, Charlotte and Martinsville.
  • The final $1 million drawing was staged at Phoenix Raceway.
2024 · Second edition

The playoff returns

Powerball brought the national promotion back for a second year, again sending four finalists to NASCAR Championship Weekend in Phoenix and televising the $1 million drawing around the Cup Series championship.

  • 27 state lotteries participated.
  • Louisiana player Meagan Lewis won the $1 million prize.
  • NASCAR said the promotion had become a recurring fan-engagement programme.
2025 · Third edition

28 lotteries take part

The third NASCAR Powerball Playoff expanded to 28 participating lotteries. Sixteen players again entered the playoff-style elimination rounds.

  • Kansas player Francisco Erives won $1 million.
  • The final was broadcast live on NBC before the Cup Series Championship race.
  • Powerball described it as the third installment of the national promotion.
2026 · Redesign

The Chase to $1 Million

Following NASCAR's championship-format changes, Powerball replaced the previous playoff-branded structure with NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million.

  • One semifinalist is submitted by each participating lottery.
  • Players collect cash as they advance.
  • Four finalists go to Championship Weekend Miami.
Current promotion

NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million in 2026

The 2026 version no longer simply copies the older 16-to-12-to-8-to-4 NASCAR playoff format.

State promotionsLottery semifinalists

Participating lotteries run their own local promotions and second-chance drawings during the NASCAR regular season.

Start of The Chase$2,000 guaranteed

Each lottery semifinalist receives $2,000 for reaching the national Chase stage.

AdvancementMore cash prizes

Players who survive each drawing collect additional cash as the field is reduced.

Championship1 of 4 wins $1m

Four finalists travel to Miami for a special $1 million drawing televised live on NBC.

2026 final: Powerball says the four finalists will attend NASCAR Championship Weekend in Miami on November 6–8, 2026. The $1 million drawing is scheduled to be televised live on NBC before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race.
Entry route

How do lottery players enter the NASCAR Powerball promotion?

There is no single national entry form. Entry starts with participating state lotteries.

Local lottery first, national promotion second

Participating lotteries run their own in-state promotions and second-chance drawings. Entry dates, eligible tickets and entry methods therefore differ by jurisdiction. At the end of the qualifying period, each participating lottery submits a player into the national Powerball promotion.

This structure matters because NASCAR and Powerball provide the national framework, while the individual state lotteries control how their local players qualify.

$1 million champions

Known NASCAR Powerball Playoff winners

YearWinnerLottery / locationFinal
2024Meagan LewisLouisiana Lottery · New Orleans$1 million drawing at Phoenix Raceway before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
2025Francisco ErivesKansas Lottery · Jetmore, Kansas$1 million drawing broadcast live on NBC at Phoenix Raceway.
The inaugural 2023 winner should be added to this table only after retaining a primary-source winner record alongside the name. This page deliberately avoids filling historical gaps from memory or unsourced summaries.
People around the partnership

Notable NASCAR and entertainment figures connected to Powerball promotions

An appearance within a Powerball VIP programme is not the same as serving as a Powerball spokesperson.

Richard Petty

NASCAR legend · promotional involvement

Appeared in Powerball's NASCAR winner experience and has been documented interacting with finalists and winners.

Erik Jones

NASCAR driver · VIP experience

Powerball finalists received an organised meet-and-greet with Jones during the NASCAR promotion.

Kyle Busch

NASCAR champion · event involvement

Documented among notable NASCAR personalities encountered by Powerball finalists.

Richard Childress

Team owner · event involvement

Appeared within the official NASCAR Powerball finalist experience.

Tiffany Haddish

Actress & comedian · event association

Documented among personalities encountered during a NASCAR Powerball VIP programme; this should not be described as a Powerball endorsement.

Source desk

Primary records for the Powerball–NASCAR partnership

Official Powerball and NASCAR records are used wherever possible so dates, terminology and promotion mechanics can be independently checked.

Reference standard: promotional names, winners and participating-lottery counts should be updated from primary records when new editions are announced. The page should distinguish the formal NASCAR–Powerball partnership from celebrity or driver appearances occurring within individual events.