Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff moments in elimination era

2024 marks a decade since the elimination-style playoff format reshaped the NASCAR Cup Series into a dramatic contest of survival and triumph. There have been plenty of moments of drivers fighting in every round to keep their season alive and earn the right to compete for a championship.

NASCAR.com revisited 10 playoff moments that delivered unforgettable thrills and showcased the fierce competition in the quest for a title. 

10. 2015 Round of 12: Joey Logano gets the broom

Logano opened the round with a dominant performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway by leading 227 laps and fending off defending champ Kevin Harvick by 0.703 seconds to the checkered flag.

The following race at Kansas, Logano made a sharp move on race leader Matt Kenseth with five laps to go, taking away Kenseth's chance to earn a spot in the next round.

Finally, at Talladega in the closing race, Harvick's engine expired on the final restart and cars started wrecking behind him on Lap 195. Logano was inches ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., knocking out the then 12-time Most Popular Driver after the No. 22 Ford was declared the winner on video review, leading Logano to a full-round sweep.  

9. 2015 Chicagoland Speedway, Round of 16: Kevin Harvick vs. Jimmie Johnson

After a restart, Kevin Harvick's No. 4 Ford led the inside lane, trailed by Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet. Johnson jostled aggressively, veered to the apron to avoid a crash, then reentered the track, nudging Harvick's Chevy, resulting in a cut left-rear tire. Harvick spun a few laps later, ending his first playoff race as defending champ on a sour note. Post-race, the then-six-time champion visited Harvick's motorhome to explain his actions. Still seething, Harvick confronted Johnson, pushing him in anger before exchanging brief words and parting ways.

8. 2020 Martinsville Speedway, Round of 8: Chase Elliott's time

Elliott put on a clinic at the Virginia short track, leading 236 of the 500 laps in the penultimate race of the season. It would have been almost all negated if it weren't for the No. 9 Jackman TJ Semke making a heads-up play after jumping the wall early and directly running back to tag the wall to nullify the penalty. It was Elliott's fourth victory in 2020 before winning the championship in the next race at Phoenix.

7. 2015 Dover Motor Speedway, Round of 16: Kevin Harvick closes in crunch time

The defending champ was 22 markers below the elimination line entering the final race in the Round of 16 at Dover Motor Speedway, needing a win to keep his season alive. Living up to "The Closer" moniker, Harvick stepped up to lead 355 laps around the "Monster Mile" to lock a spot in the Round of 12. 

6. 2014 Phoenix Raceway, Round of 8: Ryan Newman moves Kyle Larson

The pressure of vying for an inaugural Championship 4 spot was on full display in the closing laps at Phoenix. With Kevin Harvick clear out in front, that left Ryan Newman to force his way to find more points. Newman decided to move rookie Kyle Larson out of his path to finish 11th and point his way to the final round.  

5. 2017 Martinsville Speedway, Round of 8: Denny Hamlin vs. Chase Elliott 

With four laps to go in the Round of 8 opener, it was Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott on the front row for the race restart. Hamlin made an aggressive push off of Elliott's bumper, sending the No. 24 Chevrolet into the wall, costing the sophomore what could have been his first Cup win and spot in the Championship 4. 

4. 2015 Martinsville Speedway, Round of 8: Matt Kenseth gets payback on Joey Logano

Kenseth initially got tangled with the No. 2 Team Penske Ford of Brad Keselowski on Lap 443, after starting third on the restart. The No. 22 of Logano then scampered off with the lead, eyeing his fourth win in a row of the playoffs.

Kenseth fell numerous laps down after getting damage repaired done to continue and found Logano in his rearview mirror with the No. 22 Ford preparing to lap him a 10th time. Kenseth slammed into the side of Logano taking both drivers out of the race and a possible win from Logano. 

3. 2019 Martinsville Speedway, Round of 8: Denny Hamlin vs. Joey Logano 

On Lap 459, Denny Hamlin moved up the race track, leaving limited room for Joey Logano out of Turn 4, causing the No. 22 Ford to get a flat tire and spin. After the race, the two drivers exchanged heated words on pit road leading to Logano shoving Hamlin and both crews trying to hold both drivers back to keep the scene from escalating. 

2. 2014 Texas Motor Speedway, Round of 8: Jeff Gordon vs. Brad Keselowski 

Gordon was in control late in the race until Clint Bowyer hit the wall and brought out a caution. After the restart, Keselowski tried to force a three-wide move to take second from Gordon, leaving the No. 24 Chevrolet with a flat left-rear tire which sent Gordon spinning two corners later.

After the race, Gordon went looking for answers from Keselowski on pit road. Keeping his distance, Keselowski and the No. 2 crew were trying to keep the situation from rising. But after a nudge from Kevin Harvick, a brawl broke out between the teams and left Keselowski bloody on the scene.

1. 2022 Martinsville Speedway, Round of 8: Ross Chastain's 'Hail Melon'

With the final race before the Championship 4 reaching a close,  Chastain and the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team's hopes of fighting for a title were dwindling. That left Chastain with one option, a last-ditch effort of putting his Chevrolet against the wall and flooring it to the finish line. The viral video-game move propelled Chastain into the final spot over Denny Hamlin and came to be known as the 'Hail Melon' due to Chastain's roots as a watermelon farmer.