BACK TO GALLERIES

Clutch in the playoffs: Drivers who won in critical situations

By Staff Report | Published: 28 Dec, 2022 26
Sean Gardner | NASCAR via Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Since NASCAR instituted the elimination-style playoff format in 2014, we've seen several drivers elevate their abilities with everything on the line. Scroll through to see the most clutch playoff wins in NASCAR history, including Joey Logano's title victory in 2022 at Phoenix Raceway.

2 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Brian Lawdermilk | Contributor | Getty Images

Brad Keselowski: Talladega, 2014

Keselowski's playoff chances weren't looking good following back-to-back finishes outside the top 15 in the Round of 12, but he grabbed the lead from Ryan Newman on the final lap and wheeled his No. 2 to Victory Lane.

3 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: Phoenix, 2014

Harvick's Phoenix win secured him a spot in the Championship 4. His 264 laps led accounted for 84.6 percent of the race. He would go on to win the championship.

4 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: Miami, 2014

After winning the season finale, Harvick hoisted the championship trophy in Victory Lane -- completing a perfect first season with Stewart-Haas Racing.

5 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: Dover, 2015

Coming off finishes of 42nd and 21st in the first two races of the opening playoff round, the 2014 champion had to win in order to advance -- and that's just what he did. Harvick led 355 of 400 laps to advance to the Round of 12.

6 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Jeff Gordon: Martinsville, 2015

Gordon booked his ticket to the Championship 4 in his final full-time season after career win No. 93. It also was his first win of the season and provided one of the year's most memorable celebrations.

7 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Kyle Busch: Miami, 2015

Busch's storybook season concluded with a Miami win, earning him the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series championship.

8 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: New Hampshire, 2016

Again, Kevin Harvick found his advancement chances were in the danger zone. He turned it around, however, in week No. 2 and pulled off the win, automatically advancing him to the Round of 12.

9 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: Kansas, 2016

After a 38th-place finish at Charlotte and with the unknown of Talladega looming, Kansas served as the last chance for the 2014 champion to control his own fate, so to speak. Harvick got the win he needed and a Round of 8 spot.

10 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Joey Logano: Talladega, 2016

When an engine turned sour for teammate Brad Keselowski, Logano made sure it wasn't a lost day for the Penske camp. The defending race winner wasn't in a must-win position but a victory secured his spot in the Round of 8. It was a nice bounce-back from an earlier pit-road penalty when a jack was stuck under his car -- he made it all the way around the track without it dislodging -- and a 36th-place finish at Charlotte.

11 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Sean Gardner | NASCAR via Getty Images

Carl Edwards: Texas, 2016

A 36th-place finish at Martinsville left Edwards in close to a must-win situation for the final two races in the Round of 8. A clutch pit stop late got Edwards ahead of Martin Truex Jr. and put him in position to lead the final 36 laps in the rain-shortened race. The victory locked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver into the Championship 4.

12 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Getty Images

Joey Logano: Phoenix, 2016

In an incredibly tight Round of 8 finale, Logano held off Kevin Harvick as the final laps ticked off and then pounced late when Matt Kenseth wrecked on a restart. The crafty bit of late driving sent Logano to victory, and locked up his spot in the Championship 4.

13 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Sean Gardner | NASCAR via Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson: Miami, 2016

Johnson started from the rear and trailed fellow Championship 4 drivers throughout the race, but would show why he is one of NASCAR's greatest drivers with a clutch performance for the ages. Deftly dodging a late-race wreck, Johnson launched the most perfect restart of his career to lead the final three laps -- and ONLY the final three laps -- to win the race and claim his seventh championship.

14 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr.: Miami, 2017

Truex Jr. started on the front row and had to battle with his Championship 4 contenders all day -- along with Kyle Larson, who led 145 laps -- and he held off Kyle Busch late to win his first title.

15 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

Joey Logano: Miami, 2018

Logano came into the Championship 4 -- or as he called it the "Big 3 and me" -- as the perceived underdog. But Logano executed perhaps the best restart of his life, passing Martin Truex Jr. perfectly with 12 laps remaining and pulling away to win his first series championship.

16 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Ryan Blaney: Talladega-2, 2019

Blaney was ranked 12th coming into the race at Talladega Superspeedway. After a pit road mishap in Stage 1 and avoiding multiple huge wrecks, Blaney battled it out at the very end with Ryan Newman to take the checkered flag by .007 seconds. This was his first win of 2019 and clinched his spot in the Round of 8.

17 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick: Texas-2, 2019

Harvick entered Texas on the wrong side of the cutline but left the Lone Star State locked into the Championship 4 with his third straight Texas fall win.

18 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Denny Hamlin: Phoenix-2, 2019

Hamlin entered the elimination race at ISM Raceway below the playoff cutline and knew his only hope of making it to the Championship 4 was to win. And, he did just that. He led 143 laps and held on after a late-race caution to get his sixth victory of the season and his ticket to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

19 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Kyle Busch: Miami, 2019

Busch came into the title race winless in his last 21 races and something of an underdog. All he did was lead the weekend's lone practice session and then go out a lead a race-high 120 laps for the victory and championship.

20 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Kurt Busch: Las Vegas, 2020

Busch entered the Round of 12 ranked 12th out of 12 drivers still playoff eligible. Then, he went to his hometown track and won for the first time in 22 starts to lock himself into the Round of 8.

21 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Chase Elliott: Martinsville, 2020

Elliott entered the Round of 8 elimination race 25 points below the cutline in fifth. He then dominated the race, leading 236 laps, to take the checkered flag and punch his ticket into the Championship 4.

22 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Chase Elliott: Phoenix, 2020

Elliott had to drop to the rear prior to the green flag for failing pre-race inspection twice and he wasted no time marching back to the front. He led 153 laps on the day en route to his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

23 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Christian Petersen | Getty Images

Kyle Larson: Phoenix, 2021

A clutch pit stop from the No. 5 crew set Larson up to lead the final 24 laps of the race, his 10th win of 2021 and his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

24 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Christopher Bell: Charlotte Roval, 2022

Facing elimination and in a must-win scenario, Bell used a late pit stop for fresh tires to go from seventh to first over the final two green-flag runs at the end of the race to punch his ticket to the Round of 8 -- and eliminate rival and defending champ Kyle Larson in the process.

25 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Stacy Revere | Getty Images

Christopher Bell: Charlotte Roval, 2022

Once again facing elimination with his back against the wall, Bell won when it mattered -- emerging from Martinsville with a grandfather clock and a spot in the Championship 4.

26 of 26

NASCAR Placeholder Image

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Joey Logano: Phoenix, 2022

Having clinched his spot in the Championship 4 weeks before his three competitors, Logano and crew chief Paul Wolfe were tremendously prepared for the finale and it showed. Logano led a race-high 187 laps and didn't look back en route to his second title.