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.
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
3 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
5 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 3 |
9 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
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 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
4 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
7 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 3 |
9 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
10 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 1 |
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 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 51 |
2 | 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 50 |
3 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 43 |
4 | 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 500 | 39 |
5 | 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 52 |
6 | 12 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 35 |
7 | 25 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 30 |
8 | 24 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 500 | 30 |
9 | 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 34 |
10 | 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 45 |
11 | 10 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 26 |
12 | 7 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 500 | 29 |
13 | 19 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 24 |
14 | 5 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 38 |
15 | 15 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 23 |
16 | 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 21 |
17 | 13 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 20 |
18 | 23 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 19 |
19 | 26 | 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 498 | 0 |
20 | 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 498 | 17 |
21 | 14 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 16 |
22 | 31 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 15 |
23 | 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 |
24 | 22 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 497 | 13 |
25 | 17 | 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 |
26 | 30 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 497 | 11 |
27 | 29 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 10 |
28 | 36 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 495 | 9 |
29 | 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 494 | 8 |
30 | 35 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 |
31 | 32 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 466 | 6 |
32 | 33 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 460 | 0 |
33 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 316 | 4 |
34 | 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 225 | 0 |
35 | 28 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 2 |
DSQ | 6 | 6 | Brad 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 Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 |
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 announcers | Pit 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 announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dave Moody | Steve 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 | style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 |
style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0) |
style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0) |
style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0) |
align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,350 (–2,650) |
align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,339 (–2,661) |
align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,316 (–2,684) |
align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,300 (–2,700) |
align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,259 (–2,741) |
align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,244 (–2,756) |
align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,204 (–2,796) |
align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,198 (–2,802) |
align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 13 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,197 (–2,803) |
align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,194 (–2,806) |
align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 15 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,104 (–2,896) |
align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 16 | 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 | 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}}