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NASCAR Playoffs recap: Round of 12, Cup Series

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

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 [caption id="attachment_367923" align="alignright" width="300"]James Gilbert | Getty Images[/caption] 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 [caption id="attachment_368631" align="alignleft" width="300"]Sean Gardner | Getty Images[/caption] 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 [caption id="attachment_369430" align="alignright" width="300"]Mike Mulholland | Getty Images[/caption] 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