NASCAR Playoffs recap: Round of 12, Cup Series

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 Texas Motor Speedway, Sept. 25

Winner: Tyler Reddick

Key highlights: Attrition played a significant role in the opening race of the second round, with playoff drivers Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell crashing out of contention, and Bowman sustaining a concussion that sidelined him from competition and eliminated him from the postseason. After William Byron sent Denny Hamlin spinning under caution, Tyler Reddick outlasted the field and fended off Joey Logano for the race victory.

Full race recap: Tyler Reddick avoids Texas trouble, secures third Cup Series victory

At-track photos: Best pictures from Texas

Race 2: At Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 2

Winner: Chase Elliott

Key highlights: The 2.66-mile superspeedway known for producing chaos surprised everyone with its lack of drama despite a nail-biting finish. Elliott scored the first postseason win for a playoff driver by just 0.046 seconds over Ryan Blaney for a series-high fifth win of the year.

Full race recap: Chase Elliott wins at Talladega, advances to Round of 8 in playoffs

At-track photos: Best pictures from Talladega

Race 3: At Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, Oct. 9

Winner: Christopher Bell

Key highlights: Chase Elliott dominated the day with 30 laps led, but late cautions shook up the running order. Elliott was sent spinning to a 20th-place finish while Christopher Bell rallied for an improbable walk-off victory in a must-win situation, advancing him to the Round of 8 while a mistake by Kyle Larson and mechanical issues for Daniel Suárez thwarted their title hopes.

Full race recap: Christopher Bell nets clutch, playoff-saving victory at Charlotte Roval

At-track photos: Best pictures from the Roval

Drivers eliminated: Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman