2022 Xfinity 500

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 35 of 36 in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = Xfinity 500

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2022 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2022-nascar-cup-series-schedule/ |website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |access-date=September 26, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Martinsville Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=September 26, 2022|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205616/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/29/12235_ENTNUM.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 24, 2022|date=October 24, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Practice Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/xfinity-500/stn/practice1/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=October 29, 2022|date=October 29, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/xfinity-500/stn/qualifying/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=October 29, 2022|date=October 29, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Xfinity 500 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/xfinity-500/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=October 30, 2022|date=October 30, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/30/12235_REUNOFFDRIVPTS-1.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 30, 2022|date=October 30, 2022}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2022|10|30}}

| Year = 2022

| Image = Martinsville Speedway track map.png

| Caption =

| Location = Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia

| Course_mi = .526

| Course_km = .847

| Distance_laps = 500

| Distance_mi = 263

| Distance_km = 423.5

| Weather = Clouded sky

| Avg = {{convert|113.5|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}

| Pole_Driver = Kyle Larson

| Pole_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Pole_Time = 19.709

| Most_Driver = Denny Hamlin

| Most_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing

| Most_laps = 203

| Car = 20

| First_Driver = Christopher Bell

| First_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing

| Network = NBC

| Announcers = Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

| Ratings =

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace

| Turn_Ann = Dave Moody (Backstretch)

}}

The 2022 Xfinity 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 30, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) short track, it was the 35th race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the ninth race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 8.

This race, won by Christopher Bell, was noted for Ross Chastain's "Hail Melon" finish, in which Chastain rode the wall in a move described as similar to those done in racing video games to secure a fourth-place finish that locked him to the Championship 4 race. Chastain's move also set an all-new track record.

Report

=Background=

File:Martinsville Speedway, September 2011 overview.JPG, the track where the race was held.]]

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At {{convert|0.526|mi|km}} in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track is also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only NASCAR oval track on the entire NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, then concrete to cover the turns.

{{clear}}

==Entry list==

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1Ross Chastainnowrap| Trackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet
2Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
16nowrap| A. J. Allmendinger (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison Burton (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Ty Gibbs (i)23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Todd Gilliland (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Ty DillonPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet
43Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet
45Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Noah Gragson (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingFord
77Landon Cassill (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsFord
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/29/12235_ENTNUM.pdf Official entry list]

Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 19.916 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|95.079|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Denny Hamlin tops Ryan Blaney in Martinsville Cup practice|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/denny-hamlin-leads-martinsville-cup-practice/10392284/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=October 29, 2022|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=October 29, 2022}}

=Practice results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 19.916 || 95.079

2

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford || 19.917 || 95.075

3

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.949 || 94.922

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/29/12235_PRACFINAL.pdf Official practice results]

Qualifying

Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 19.709 and a speed of {{Convert|96.078|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Kyle Larson beats teammate Elliott to Martinsville Cup pole|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/kyle-larson-elliott-briscoe-martinsville-cup-pole/10392331/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=October 29, 2022|location=Martinsville, Virginia|date=October 29, 2022}}

=Qualifying results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}}

! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}}

1

| 5 || Kyle Larson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.733 || 19.709

2

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.683 || 19.721

3

| 14 || Chase Briscoe || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.659 || 19.721

4

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford || 19.814 || 19.740

5

| 41 || Cole Custer || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.718 || 19.780

6

| 6 || Brad Keselowski || RFK Racing || Ford || 19.754 || 19.783

7

| 99 || Daniel Suárez || Trackhouse Racing Team || Chevrolet || 19.774 || 19.810

8

| 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.752 || 19.822

9

| 1 || Ross Chastain || Trackhouse Racing Team || Chevrolet || 19.753 || 19.828

10

| 21 || Harrison Burton (R) || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 19.742 || 19.933

11

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 19.763 || —

12

| 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 19.766 || —

13

| 34 || Michael McDowell || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 19.788 || —

14

| 7 || Corey LaJoie || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.825 || —

15

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 19.829 || —

16

| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 19.839 || —

17

| 48 || Noah Gragson (i) || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.845 || —

18

| 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 19.849 || —

19

| 38 || Todd Gilliland (R) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 19.861 || —

20

| 20 || Christopher Bell || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 19.882 || —

21

| 16 || A. J. Allmendinger (i) || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 19.888 || —

22

| 17 || Chris Buescher || RFK Racing || Ford || 19.891 || —

23

| 43 || Erik Jones || Petty GMS Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.898 || —

24

| 45 || Bubba Wallace || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 19.924 || —

25

| 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 19.942 || —

26

| 23 || Ty Gibbs (i) || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 19.943 || —

27

| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 19.958 || —

28

| 8 || Tyler Reddick || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 19.980 || —

29

| 31 || Justin Haley || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 19.987 || —

30

| 2 || Austin Cindric (R) || Team Penske || Ford || 19.998 || —

31

| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 20.086 || —

32

| 42 || Ty Dillon || Petty GMS Motorsports || Chevrolet || 20.103 || —

33

| 77 || Landon Cassill (i) || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 20.210 || —

34

| 78 || B. J. McLeod (i) || Live Fast Motorsports || Ford || 20.247 || —

35

| 15 || J. J. Yeley (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 20.356 || —

36

| 51 || Cody Ware || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 20.840 || —

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/29/12235_QUALRES.pdf Official qualifying results]

Race

Heading into the finish, Ross Chastain clinched his spot into the Championship 4 by the way of a last-ditch wall-ride that has been described as a "video game-like move" in the final lap.{{cite web |title=Ross Chastain's bold wall-riding move seals title berth; Christopher Bell wins race |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/id/34913307/ross-chastain-bold-wall-riding-move-seals-title-berth-christopher-bell-wins-race |work=ESPN.com |access-date=31 October 2022 |date=31 October 2022}} Chastain's move also set a new Cup Series lap record on the track at 18.845 seconds.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Dustin |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Long: Ross Chastain's frenzied finish divides competitors |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2022/10/30/long-ross-chastain-frenzied-finish-dvides-competitors-joey-logano-denny-hamlin-cole-custer-chase-briscoe/ |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=NBC Sports}} The move has been dubbed the Hail Melon by many in the sport. Christopher Bell's race victory also placed him into the championship race, with Joey Logano (who won a race in the Round of 8) and Chase Elliott also advancing.

=Stage Results=

Stage One

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
29Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
341Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord8
45Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
514Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord6
620Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord4
81Ross ChastainTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet3
999Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet2
1010Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/30/12235_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
29Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
35Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
441Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord7
520Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6
612Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord5
722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord4
81Ross ChastainTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet3
999Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet2
1045Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/30/12235_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 240

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

12020Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50051
215Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50050
3412Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord50043
491Ross ChastainTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet50039
51111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50052
61222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50035
72524William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50030
82445Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota50030
9314Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord50034
1029Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50045
111021Harrison Burton (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord50026
12799Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet50029
131938Todd Gilliland (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord50024
14541Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord50038
151510Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord50023
1684Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord50021
171334Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord50020
182343Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet49819
192623Ty Gibbs (i)23XI RacingToyota4980
202719Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota49817
21147Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet49816
223147Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet49815
232116A. J. Allmendinger (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet4980
242217Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord49713
251748Noah Gragson (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4970
26302Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord49711
272931Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet49710
283651Cody WareRick Ware RacingFord4959
291818Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4948
303515J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord4880
313242Ty DillonPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet4666
323377Landon Cassill (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet4600
33163Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3164
343478B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsFord2250
35288Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1882
DSQ66Brad Keselowski{{efn|Keselowski originally finished fourth, but was disqualified due to his car being found to be underweight in post-race inspection.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Keselowski disqualified from fourth at Martinsville |url=https://racer.com/2022/10/30/keselowski-disqualified-from-fourth-at-martinsville/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Brad Keselowski fails post-race inspection, dropped to last place - NBC |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2022/10/30/brad-keselowski-fails-post-race-inspection-dropped-to-last-place/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=NASCAR Talk {{!}} NBC Sports |language=en-US}}}}| RFK RacingFord5001
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/30/12235_UNOFFRES-1.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 8 among 5 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 53
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 24 minutes and 18 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|77.239|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 1997 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2014 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="2"|NBC
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider
Dillon Welch

=Radio=

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 7 time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace had the call for MRN when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody covered the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstraightway into turn 3. Steve Post, Winston Kelley, Brienne Pedigo and Kim Coon covered the action for MRN from pit lane.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="3"|MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Dave MoodySteve Post
Winston Kelley
Brienne Pedigo
Kim Coon

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 5

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Christopher Bell

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Ross Chastain

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,350 (–2,650)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| William Byron

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,339 (–2,661)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,316 (–2,684)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,300 (–2,700)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Daniel Suárez

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,259 (–2,741)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| Chase Briscoe

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,244 (–2,756)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| Austin Dillon

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,204 (–2,796)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| Austin Cindric

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,198 (–2,802)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| Tyler Reddick

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,197 (–2,803)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,194 (–2,806)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,104 (–2,896)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,085 (–2,915)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/10/30/12235_REUNOFFDRIVPTS-1.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,290

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,210 (–80)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,158 (–132)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

{{col-end}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2022

| Previous_race = 2022 Dixie Vodka 400

| Next_race = 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race

}}

{{2022 NASCAR Cup}}

Xfinity 500

Xfinity 500

Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway

Xfinity 500

Category:Nicknamed sporting events