Winners of NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs elimination races

In NASCAR's playoff elimination era, drivers have come up in the clutch at the most significant moments. From playoff spoilers scoring upset wins to title contenders winning in walk-off fashion, see the Cup Series drivers who have won each elimination race. 

Round: 2024 Round of 8 
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Ryan Blaney 
Note: The 2023 Cup Series champion found enough speed in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford to vault past Chase Elliott in the closing laps to clinch the victory and Championship 4 berth. 

Round: 2024 Round of 12
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Kyle Larson
Note: Larson dominated the final stage of the Round of 12 elimination race to secure his 29th career Cup Series victory and a spot in the Round of 8.

Round: 2024 Round of 16
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Note: Larson earned his 28th career Cup Series win in dominant fashion, leading 462 of 500 laps under the lights in the Bristol Night Race.

Round: 2023 Championship 4
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Ross Chastain
Note: Chastain captured his second victory of 2023 in the season finale at Phoenix. Chastain outdueled all four championship contending drivers to the checkered flag, leading a race-high 157 laps. 

Round: 2023 Round of 8
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Ryan Blaney
Note: Blaney had a near-perfect day, collecting 59 total points and claiming his first career short-track win. It set of a raucous celebration for the No. 12 crew, who officially clinched a Championship 4 spot with the victory.

Round: 2023 Round of 12 Track: Charlotte Roval
Winner: AJ Allmendinger
Note: Allmendinger stole some thunder from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers with a convincing victory, leading a race-high 46 laps, including the final 33 to the checkered.

Round: 2023 Round of 16 Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Note: Denny Hamlin landed a knockout punch in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, winning for the third time in 2023, the third time at Bristol and the 51st time in his career, dropped an all-time Victory Lane quote in the process.

Round: 2022 Championship 4
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Joey Logano
Note: Logano completely dominated the field in the season-ender, driving away from the rest of the pack to earn his second career Cup Series title.

Round: 2022 Round of 8
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Christopher Bell
Note: Once again in a must-win situation entering the penultimate race of the season, Bell capitalized on late cautions and fresh tires to pass Chase Briscoe in the closing laps and take the checkered flag, punching his ticket to the Championship 4 at Phoenix.

Round: 2022 Round of 12
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Christopher Bell
Note: Bell needed a win to keep his championship hopes alive after entering the race in an insurmountable points position. Gambling on a pit stop late, Bell raced his way to the front and held off the field to reach Victory Lane in walk-off fashion.

Round: 2022 Round of 16
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Chris Buescher
Note: Buescher's win marked a full Round of 16 sweep by non-playoff drivers after Erik Jones won at Darlington and Bubba Wallace took the checkered flag at Kansas.

Round: 2021 Championship 4
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Note: Larson won the race to win his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Round: 2021 Round of 8
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Alex Bowman
Note: Bowman was already eliminated from the playoffs.

Round: 2021 Round of 12
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Kyle Larson
Note: Entered 22 points ahead of the elimination line.

Round: 2021 Round of 16
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Kyle Larson
Note: Entered with enough points to advance, 98 points above the elimination line.

Round: 2020 Championship 4
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Chase Elliott
Note: Elliott drove from the back to the front after inspection penalty sent him to the rear for his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Round: 2020 Round of 8
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Winner: Chase Elliott
Note: Won his first career race at the "Paperclip" and punched his Championship 4 ticket after entering the race 25 points below the elimination line in fifth.

Round: 2020 Round of 12
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Chase Elliott
Note: Won his second consecutive race at the Roval, as well as his fourth straight road-course race.

Round: 2020 Round of 16
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Winner: Kevin Harvick
Note: Won his second race in the Round of 16.

Round: 2019 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Kyle Busch
Note: Won race to win the championship.

Round: 2019 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Note: Won race after entering below the elimination line to make it to the Championship 4.

Round: 2019 Round of 12
Track: Kansas Speedway
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Note: Hamlin padded his playoff point total with his fifth win of the season.

Round: 2019 Round of 16
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Chase Elliott
Note: Rebounded from a mid-race, head-on collision with the wall, but had already clinched playoff advancement.

Round: 2018 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Joey Logano
Note: Won race to win the championship.

Round: 2018 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Kyle Busch
Note: Entered race 28 points above the elimination line.

Round: 2018 Round of 12
Track: Kansas Speedway
Winner: Chase Elliott
Note: Was already locked in with previous win in the round.

Round: 2018 Round of 16
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval
Winner: Ryan Blaney
Note: Entered race four points above the elimination line.

Round: 2017 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
Note: Won race to win the championship.

Round: 2017 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Matt Kenseth
Note: Was already eliminated from playoffs.

Round: 2017 Round of 12
Track: Kansas Speedway
Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
Note: Was already locked in with previous win in the round.

Round: 2017 Round of 16
Track: Dover International Speedway
Winner: Kyle Busch
Note: Was already locked in with previous win in the round.

Round: 2016 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Jimmie Johnson
Note: Won race to win the championship, his record-tying seventh.

Round: 2016 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Joey Logano
Note: Entered tied for the lead in points.

Round: 2016 Round of 12
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Joey Logano
Note: Entered tied for the last transfer position.

Round: 2016 Round of 16
Track: Dover International Speedway
Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
Note: Was already locked in with previous win in the round.

Round: 2015 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Kyle Busch
Note: Won race to win the championship.

Round: 2015 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Note: Was already eliminated from playoffs.

Round: 2015 Round of 12
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Joey Logano
Note: Won all three races this round.

Round: 2015 Round of 16
Track: Dover International Speedway
Winner: Kevin Harvick
Note: Was in must-win position and 23 points below the elimination line.

Round: 2014 Championship 4
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Winner: Kevin Harvick
Note: Won race to win the championship.

Round: 2014 Round of 8
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Winner: Kevin Harvick
Note: Entered eighth in points, six points below the elimination line with a win being his only way to control his own destiny.

Round: 2014 Round of 12
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Brad Keselowski
Note: Was in must-win territory, sitting 19 points below the elimination line.

Round: 2014 Round of 16
Track: Dover International Speedway
Winner: Jeff Gordon
Note: Entered safe on points, 21 points ahead of the elimination line.