SONOMA, Calif. — Ty Dillon sat down with a thousand-yard stare beside an equally stone-faced Denny Hamlin, and both were clad in black to promote their In-Season Challenge matchup.For the second consecutive year, the NASCAR Cup Series drivers face off in the first round, and their joint interview Saturday at Sonoma Raceway came off with the feel of a heavyweight weigh-in — absent the verbal jousting.They’re leaving the trash talking to their daughters, who have become best friends at the racetrack but will be “competing as much as we will,” Hamlin said.“Behind the scenes, they’re probably more invested in this than anybody,” Dillon said with a laugh.The last road course of the Cup Series season will mark the start of the In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament with $1 million at stake for the winner.There are 16 head-to-head matchups Sunday at Sonoma, with the highest finisher advancing to the next round.In the event’s debut last season, the breakout star was Dillon. As the 32nd and last seed, the Kaulig Racing driver made an improbably flamboyant run to a runner-up finish while upsetting Hamlin and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski.Dillon is ranked 31st with a best finish of 12th this season, but the In-Season Challenge looms as another chance to garner some headlines and unlikely fans.“When he knocked me out last year, I became the biggest Ty Dillon fan,” Hamlin said. “I certainly love their story and have a ton of respect for him.“Dillon is a 34-year-old journeyman who has raced in the Cup …
