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 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 15
Key highlights: After hitting the outside wall in the battle for the lead, Josh Berry was able to manage his car without issue and maintained the lead to secure his berth in the Championship 4. AJ Allmendinger was the only playoff driver to finish outside the top 10 after a pair of loose wheels derailed his day.
Winner: Josh Berry
Full race recap: Berry punches first ticket to Championship 4
At-track photos: 2022 Las Vegas playoff weekend
Race 2: At Homestead-Miami Speedway, Oct. 22
Key highlights: The day belonged to the driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Leading 127 of 200 laps, Noah Gragson held off the field on a late restart to secure his well-earned spot in the Championship 4 with win No. 8 on the season. Playoff driver Justin Allgaier had an eventful race, finishing 10th after falling a lap down.
Winner: Noah Gragson
Full race recap: Gragson scores eighth win of 2022
At-track photos: 2022 Homestead playoff weekend
Race 3: At Martinsville Speedway, Oct. 29
Key highlights: The season’s penultimate race was filled with tension, heartbreak and hurt feelings. Ty Gibbs picked up a win after spinning his teammate Brandon Jones entering Turn 1 on the final lap. Justin Allgaier secured the final spot in the Championship 4 after rubbing fenders with fellow playoff driver AJ Allmendinger, causing Allmendinger’s No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet to suffer a flat tire.
Winner: Ty Gibbs
Full race recap: Gibbs wins in overtime to set Championship 4
At-track photos: 2022 Martinsville playoff weekend
Drivers eliminated: AJ Allmendinger, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Brandon Jones