Heartbreaking moments in Championship 4 races

The Championship 4 race is usually defined by the celebration of a driver and their team after a long, grueling schedule from February to November. You've seen all the photos of champagne showers and wholesome trophy photos after winning the top prize in all three series. 

But, we're going to look at the other side of those who've fallen short in chasing a title in the Championship 4 era. More specifically, the heartbreaking moments that stick with us today and have us thinking, "what if?"

Look back at these moments here.

CARL EDWARDS, 2016 Cup Series Championship

Carl Edwards was running away with what looked to be his first Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway after falling just shy in years past. A comfortable lead over then-Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was cut short with 15 to go as a caution came out for Dylan Lupton. 

Edwards took the next restart from the lead with 10 to go and was spun by fellow Championship 4 contender Joey Logano shortly after the restart, sending the No. 19 Toyota into the inside retaining wall and sparking a dramatic multicar incident into Turn 1. 

Jimmie Johnson went on to win his NASCAR record-tying seventh championship, while Edwards retired during the offseason. 

MARTIN TRUEX JR., 2019 Cup Series Championship

During green-flag stops in Stage 2 at Homestead, Truex was in a heated contest with JGR teammate Kyle Busch for the race lead. However, the No. 19 pit crew swapped the right and left-front tires in a costly mistake that forced Truex back to pit road. 

Truex still managed to finish second behind eventual champion Busch, but would've had the track position to compete if it wasn't for this moment. 

DENNY HAMLIN, 2019 Cup Series Championship

Arguably, an even more confusing pit-road blunder took place with 58 to go as Hamlin's crew slapped on a big space of tape to the grille at Hamlin's request. As the No. 11 got into his run, steam began pouring out of the hood, and Hamlin had to bring his car back down pit road to rip the tape off and cool down the car. It ended his shot at the title, eventually finishing 10th. 

CHASE ELLIOTT, 2022 Cup Series Championship

Going for his second Cup title, Elliott was spun on a restart early in the final stage by fellow Championship 4 contender Ross Chastain. It marked the first time a title-contending Cup Series driver had been involved in a wreck since Edwards in 2016. Elliott wound up finishing 28th as Joey Logano captured his second series crown. 

CHRISTOPHER BELL, 2023 Cup Series Championship

Bell's quest for the title in his second go-around was short-lived as the No. 20 suffered a brake failure early in Stage 2 that sent him into the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4. Ryan Blaney captured his first Cup title in this event. 

ELLIOTT SADLER, 2017 Xfinity Series Championship

The longtime veteran Sadler was in a heated contest with his rookie JR Motorsports teammate and rising prospect William Byron for the title. Going for a top five of his own, Ryan Preece held up Sadler and allowed Byron to get by Sadler with nine laps remaining. 

With five to go, Sadler would try to get around Preece to have one final shot at Byron, but instead nearly spun Preece and slammed the wall in Turns 3 and 4, allowing Byron to run away with the title. 

Sadler and Preece then had a heated meeting on pit road after the race, exchanging words before getting broken up by officials. 

CHRISTOPHER BELL, 2019 Xfinity Series Championship

Bell, Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick put on epic battles for the Xfinity title in both 2018 and 2019 at Homestead. Despite leading 37 laps, Bell made a costly error of missing pit road on the final green-flag cycle and fell short of his bid for an Xfinity championship. Reddick went on to win back-to-back titles in the series. 

AUSTIN CINDRIC, 2021 Xfinity Series Championship

Cindric was the driver to beat all season and looked to be in line to go back-to-back just like Reddick. Leading 113 laps on the night, the No. 22 Team Penske driver just needed one clean overtime restart. However, Daniel Hemric stayed with Cindric and got to his inside on the final corner, beating the No. 22 to the line by 0.030-seconds, Hemric scored his lone Xfinity title and first national-series victory. 

BRETT MOFFITT, 2020 Truck Series Championship

Moffitt dominated the evening in his Jimmie Johnson throwback, but a late caution forced the field to pit road and the No. 23 GMS Racing crew had a slow stop that put Moffitt out of reach from the lead on the overtime restart. Sheldon Creed ended up snagging the title. 

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, 2021 Truck Series Championship

A heavy favorite entering the weekend, Nemechek had a poor qualifying effort with a 16th-place starting spot. Mired in traffic, Nemechek slid up into the wall in Turns 1 and 2 on the opening lap and ultimately had a tire go down just seven laps in. He recovered to a top 10, but it was Ben Rhodes winning the title with one of the most memorable press conferences in NASCAR history.  

GRANT ENFINGER, 2023 Truck Series Championship

The 2023 edition was a messy affair among the Championship 4. Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar were involved in multiple incidents, most notably Heim retaliating on Hocevar with four to go to bring out a late caution with Grant Enfinger so close to grabbing an elusive title. One overtime restart after another was not enough for Enfinger to get back to the top spot as Rhodes went on to capture his second Truck Series title. 

CONNOR ZILISCH, 2025 Xfinity Series Championship

After a historic season that saw him win 10 races and finish in the top five for 18 consecutive races at one point, Connor Zilisch came up short of winning the Xfinity Series title. In the season finale, his No. 88 Chevrolet did not have the pace to keep up with his close friend and 2025 series champion Jesse Love.

DENNY HAMLIN, 2025 Cup Series Championship

With three laps to go, Championship 4 driver William Byron's tire went down, causing the No. 24 Chevrolet to hit the wall and set up NASCAR Overtime to decide a champion. With the field coming to pit road, Kyle Larson got valuable track position by taking two tires while Denny Hamlin took four tires. Despite a dominant performance with 208 of 319 laps led, Hamlin suffered another crushing championship defeat as Larson went on to win his second Cup Series title.