Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain claim Championship 4 spots in unbelievable Martinsville finish: Christopher Bell had another miracle in his pocket, but Ross Chastain stole the show with a scarcely believable video-game move in the final corners of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. For the second time in as many rounds in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Bell won a race he had to win. After beating pole winner Kyle Larson to the finish line by .869 seconds, Bell will race for the series title next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.[Read More](10-30-2022)
#20-Christopher Bell won the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway. The win is his 3rd win of the year, 1st at Martinsville Raceway and 4th career win.
Pole winner#5-Larson finished 2nd followed by #12-Blaney, #6-Keselowski, #1-Chastain, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #24-Byron, #45-Wallace, and #14-Briscoe.
Bell came into the race needing a win to advance to the championship 4. He took the lead under pit stops with just over 100 laps remaining. He lost the lead during final pit stops and restarted the race in 6th place with 24 laps to go. He worked his way through the field, to take the lead with 4 laps remaining and hold on for the win.
The final Championship 4 spot came down to #1-Chastain and #11-Hamlin. Hamlin had the advantage with one lap remaining but Chastain gained 5 spots by flooring the car and riding the outer wall to the finish, passing Hamlin just before the finish line.
Advancing to the Championship race: #1-Chastain, #9-Elliott, #20-Bell, and #22-Logano.
Eliminated from the Playoffs: #11-Hamlin. #12-Blaney, #24-Byron, and #14-Briscoe.
Stages 1 & 2 were won by #11-Hamlin.
There were 8 lead changes among 5 drivers and 6 cautions for 53 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 77.239mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Driver Points Standings Before Reset, Owner Points Standings, Owner Points Standings Before Reset, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.
UPDATE: #6-Keselowski was disqualified for not meeting the minimum weight requirements per NASCAR Rule Book Section 14.11.2.
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville Raceway:
Christopher Bell (P) won the 74th Annual Xfinity 500, his fourth victory in 107 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 19th top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in six races at Martinsville Speedway.
Kyle Larson (P) (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 18th top-10 finish in 2022.
Ryan Blaney (P) (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Harrison Burton (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Joey Logano (P), Chase Elliott (P), Christopher Bell (P) and Ross Chastain (P) have advanced to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round. (NASCAR)
Where the 2022 Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Martinsville:
#20-Christopher Bell, 1st
#12-Ryan Blaney, 3rd
#1-Ross Chastain, 5th
#11-Denny Hamlin, 6th
#22-Joey Logano, 7th
#24-William Byron, 8th
#14-Chase Briscoe, 10th
#9-Chase Elliott, 11th
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville Raceway:
(reseeded after the round of 8)
#22-Joey Logano, 5000
#1-Ross Chastain, 5000
#9-Chase Elliott, 5000
#20-Christopher Bell 5000
See the Reseeded Driver Points Standings and Reseeded Owner Points Standings.
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville Raceway:
(Race 35 of 36 in the season; End of round of 8)
1) #22-Joey Logano, [Win in Round of 8]
2) #20-Christopher Bell, [Win in Round of 8]
3) #9-Chase Elliott, 4137, +4
4) #1-Ross Chastain, 4137 +4 points ahead of 5th
Eliminated from the Playoffs
5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4133, -4 points behind 4th
4) #24-William Byron, 4116, -21
6) #12-Ryan Blaney, 4111, -26
8) #14-Chase Briscoe, 4076, -61
See the Driver Points Standings Before Reset and Owner Points Standings Before Reset.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: none reported
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway have been made.
Pole winner #5-Larson chose pit stall 39.
Outside pole sitter #9-Elliott took the 1st stall.
See all pit choices on the Martinsville Raceway Pit Stall page.
#5-Kyle Larson won the Busch pole for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway with speed of 96.078mph for his 4th pole of the year, 1st at Martinsville Raceway and 14th of his career.
#9-Elliott will start second followed by #14-Briscoe, #12-Blaney, #41-Custer, #6-Keselowski, #99-Suarez, #4-Harvick, #1-Chastain, and #21-Burton.
36 teams were entered so everyone made the race.
See the complete qualifying results and the Xfinity 500 Starting Lineup.
Martinsville Raceway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kyle Larson (P) won the Busch Light Pole Award for the 74th Annual Xfinity 500 with a lap of 19.709 seconds, 96.078 mph.
This is his 14th pole in 294 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 26th top-10 start in 2022.
This is his first pole in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott (P) (second) posted his 19th top-10 start of 2022 and his 11th in 15 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (P) (third) posted his first top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 12th in 35 races this season.
Harrison Burton (10th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway is over. The results:
#11-Hamlin 95.079
#12-Blaney 95.074
#9-Elliott 94.922
#5-Larson 94.869
#8-Reddick 94.826
Slowest: #78-McLeod 91.082
Most laps run: #22-Logano, 57 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 35 drivers): #12-Blaney, 94.770mph.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Xfinity 500 Practice speeds page.
Crew Rosters
The entry list for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Yeley, #16-Allmendinger, #48-Gragson, #77-Cassill.
See the full entry list on the Xfinity 500 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Martinsville Speedway
TandemDraft Stats: Cup Series Edition – Martinsville Fall
