Series
By Staff Report
NASCAR.com
Published: 29 Nov, 2022
2 Minute Read
Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2022 season in all three national series.
RACE 1: At Bristol Motor Speedway, Sept. 15
Winner: Ty Majeski
Key highlights: Short tracks, naturally, can lead to late-race restarts. Such was the case at the half-mile oval during the Round of 8 opener, where Majeski rocketed ahead of Zane Smith with 12 laps to go, never looked back and claimed a spot in the Championship 4 as a result.
Full race recap: Ty Majeski wins Truck Series race at Bristol, earns spot in Phoenix
At-track photos: 2022 Bristol Night Race weekend
RACE 2: At Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 1
Winner: Matt DiBenedetto
Key highlights: Despite not being a direct participant in the playoff field, the 31-year-old for Rackley W.A.R. didn’t cease from securing his first career win in the truck circuit. Among all Round of 8 drivers, only two finished inside the top 10 (Ben Rhodes in second and Christian Eckes in fifth).
Full race recap: Matt DiBenedetto scores first Truck Series win at Talladega
At-track photos:2022 Talladega playoff weekend
RACE 3: At Homestead-Miami Speedway, Oct. 22
Key highlights: In what amounted to his second Round of 8 victory (and second in the series overall), Majeski cemented his place as a go-to championship favorite. While both Smiths — Zane and Chandler — locked in their Championship 4 bids by double-digit points (+23 and +13, respectively), Rhodes (+1) secured his spot by the slimmest of margins over Stewart Friesen, despite finishing just behind him in the race (third compared to sixth).
Full race recap: Ty Majeski rolls to Truck win at Homestead; Championship 4 set
At-track photos: 2022 Homestead-Miami playoff weekend
DRIVERS ELIMINATED: Stewart Friesen, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, John Hunter Nemechek