MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Seven of the eight drivers who still hold Cup Series title aspirations remain in limbo heading into Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. The two closest to the provisional elimination line – on opposite sides – have been tethered together on multiple levels.
Just five points separate William Byron on the plus end and Denny Hamlin on the outside of the playoff bubble entering Sunday’s Xfinity 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM) – the last race in the postseason’s Round of 8. The title-eligible field will be chopped from eight to four after the 500-lap event.
Byron is the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent victor at the .526-mile track, and Hamlin is the circuit’s top winner among active drivers – a five-time collector of the venue’s grandfather clock trophy. Their Martinsville successes aside, the two have been linked by a well-publicized run-in – an intentional bump by Byron that sent Hamlin spinning late last month at Texas Motor Speedway.
Sunday, they’ll each try to clinch a shot at their first Cup Series crown after qualifying outside the top 10. Hamlin was fastest in practice and is set to start 11th in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, with Byron in an uncharacteristic 25th starting position in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
“It’s a big deal, but man, just as far off and terrible as we were in the spring, plus the 24 being buried, we’ve kind of got some decent momentum,” said Hamlin. “We’re better off now than what we started the day. So we’re gaining on it.”
Byron has top-five finishes in his last three starts here, capped by a convincing victory back in April when he led 212 of the 403 laps. The 24-year-old driver shrugged when asked if his recent run give him the edge — “I don’t know. You tell me.” – but he admitted that after some rookie struggles at the tight oval, he had found a groove that clicked.
Replicating that rhythm under the scope of Sunday’s playoff pressure is still an uncertainty, Byron says.
“Yeah, there’s a little bit of confidence going into this race since we had a good race in the spring,” said Byron, who is seeking his first berth in the Championship 4 field. “But at the same time, we had a test here, and you don’t know who’s going to be good or not based on that test. It’s kind of up in the air. I feel good about this race track, but you just don’t know until you get out there. That’s honestly my mentality, just try to get in the car and not think too much.”
Hamlin has been a perennial favorite in his home state, but while Byron was dashing to a springtime victory earlier this season, the No. 11 was languishing on the way to a 28th-place finish – three laps off the pace. That outcome typified the win-or-bust performance that shadowed the 41-year-old veteran through the first half of the season. Hamlin had two wins in the first 22 races but just one other top-five result in that span – an erratic stretch that kept him deep in the Cup Series standings.
Since then, the postseason has brought a pronounced turnaround for Hamlin & Co., who have landed top-10 results in seven of the eight races.
“From the beginning of the playoffs, we were going to have to defy the odds,” said Hamlin, who has reached the Championship 4 the last three seasons. “I mean, we’ve had more playoff points, we’ve been stronger, had more wins — all that stuff — you know, so I knew that this playoff was going to be tough because we were going to have to defy the odds. We know our car’s not as fast as the competition’s, so we’re just gonna have to out-execute them. That’s why I’m here to run the race because we’re not conceding anything, and I think that we’re going to show that we’ve got … there’s nothing left in the tank after tomorrow night’s race.
“So we’re going to do the best. We’re gonna keep fighting because that’s what I’m here for. You know, these opportunities are few and far between, and certainly, we’d love to make it for four years in a row.”
Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway
(⏰ 2 p.m. ET | 📺 NBC, NBC Sports App | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)
Everything you need to know for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville, the penultimate race of the 2022 campaign.
Where: Martinsville, Virginia Approximate start time: 2 p.m. ET | Weekend schedule TV/Radio: NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio | Full TV schedule The purse: $8,132,735 Forecast: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59 degrees, according to NOAA.gov | Weather tracker Race distance: 500 laps | 263 miles Stages: 130 | 260 | 500 Pit-road speed: 30 mph Caution car speed: 35 mph Martinsville 101: Get the full lowdown
Starting lineup: Kyle Larson races to P1
Pit stalls: Where drivers will pit Playoff grid: Print yours now
Key things to watch 🔑
Big story line
Sunday’s race settles which three drivers will race in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, alongside already locked-in Joey Logano. Coincidentally, two drivers battling on the elimination line, William Byron and Denny Hamlin, have had success at the track. Hamlin is perhaps the most decorated driver at the 0.526-mile Virginia race track, racking up the most wins, top-10 finishes and laps led among active drivers. But Byron dominated the spring race by leading a race-high 212 laps in an emotional victory. Many eyes are on the points battle between these title hopefuls, but underdogs Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe are purely aiming for the win. Will the Bill France Cup contestants settle in their current order, or will Sunday’s race see a new star rise before Phoenix?
Who’s hot? Who’s not?
Ross Chastain has been in incredible form lately, finishing runner-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Nineteen points ahead of the elimination line, Chastain is in a solid position to advance to his first-ever title bid at Phoenix. However, Martinsville has been far from his best track, finishing 17th or worse in six of seven Cup starts and never leading a lap. The No. 1 team will need to put together a solid run on Sunday to stave off the others, especially if a driver below the elimination line wins the race.
Since his statement win at the Charlotte Roval, Christopher Bell has been trending in the opposite direction — especially due to some unfortunate circumstances. Bell once again has his back against the wall in a must-win situation at a track he has been mostly cold at throughout his career. In his five Martinsville starts, Bell has four finishes of 15th or worse but bucked this trend with a seventh-place result in April. To advance to Phoenix, they will need to find the speed to improve those six positions from the spring race. The No. 20 team has beaten the odds before.
Driving under the radar
Blaney, Bell and Briscoe virtually need a win to advance on Sunday. If you’re looking for a non-playoff driver to spoil their championship hopes by beating them to Victory Lane, look at Kyle Busch. Busch has been masterful at Martinsville over the last few years, reeling off a pair of wins and 12 top 10s in his last 14 starts in Virginia. Only two races remain in his Joe Gibbs Racing career and Martinsville and Phoenix line up perfectly for the No. 18 wheelman to make his final statement with the organization. In the whirlwind of championship story lines, don’t forget about a two-time series champ who can still have a massive impact on this season’s outcome.
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Race-day staples ✅
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
• Paint Scheme Preview: See some new schemes with a spooky twist | Pick a favorite • Power Rankings: Bubble battle looming between Byron, Hamlin | Updated driver rankings • NASCAR betting: Best odds for Sunday’s race at Martinsville | Underdogs, value bets • Fantasy Fastlane: Denny Hamlin needs points on Sunday | Must starts, sleepers • Bubble Watch: Examining the playoff outlook before Sunday | Elimination analysis
Catch the pack 💨
Read up on the top headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race.
• Bubba’s back: Driver returns from suspension, reflects on lessons | Read more
• Playoff rivalries: Season-long rivalries could flare up on Sunday | Read more • Penalty upheld: Appeals Panel weighs in on No. 41 SHR team ruling | Read more • BJFHA: Foundation recognizes four finalists for award |Learn more, vote • Manufacturers’ championship: Chevrolet clinches back-to-back | Read more • Trackhouse: Justin Marks talks about Ross Chastain’s potential | Read more
• Alex Bowman: No. 48 driver will return to action at Phoenix | Read more • New Next Gen: NASCAR discusses changes for 2023 season | Learn more • Crew changes: Austin Dillon gets new crew chief for 2023 season | Read more • Roots: Corey LaJoie wins Modified race at Martinsville, earns clock | Watch the interview • Lights, cameras: Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum to be held under the lights | Read more
• eNASCAR: Kirwan wins Coca-Cola iRacing Series championship | Read more
Get in on the action 💰
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy.
• Fantasy preview: Top tips, strong picks for Sunday’s race | Hear the advice
• The Action Network: Betting Chase Elliott vs. Ross Chastain | Expert betting insight • Play it LIVE: Full guide to 2022 NASCAR Fantasy Live game | New rules for playoffs
• Going all the way: 2022 Cup Series championship odds | See them here
• Prop picks: Championship contenders’ final push | Make your picks
Conquering the ‘Clip 📎
Not many tracks on the schedule have a history as deep as “The Paperclip.” Dive into some details.
• Tense history: Martinsville scuffles, pit-road feuds and more | See them here
• Faith in the fall: Every fall winner in Martinsville history | See the list
• Throwback: Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano exchange words on pit road | Watch the video
• Spring winner: William Byron holds onto momentum late in emotional victory | Full spring race recap
Fast facts ⏩
Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Joe Gibbs Racing’s next win is their 200th and would make them the third organization with at least 200 wins. • AJ Allmendinger finished top 10 in his last six starts, his longest top-10 streak in Cup. • This will be the 148th Cup race at Martinsville, second most to Daytona’s 151 all-time. • There were at least eight speeding penalties in each of the last four races at Martinsville, and at least 10 in each of the last two playoff races. • At least two drivers will make it to the Championship 4 on points.
Say what? 🎙
Notable quotes from the stars of the sport heading into Sunday’s race.
• “Even the first race here we were coming to win, anyway, so I don’t think it changes your outlook. Every weekend you’re trying to win. I think maybe knowing that you’re in a must-win makes it a little bit easier to maybe try to win the race just from a strategy standpoint because you don’t have to go for the points, where like on a road course at the Roval you kind of shoot yourself in the foot to try to get points and you don’t really have a shot to win the race, so I think for us this week knowing that we’re in a must-win it maybe makes it a little bit easier from a strategy standpoint if the cautions fall the right way, but we go to the racetrack every weekend looking to win.” — Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• “It’s going to be a fight. It’s definitely not going to be easy. I expect that passing is going to be very difficult, so track position is going to be super important. We’ve got to go in there Saturday and qualify up front and have good short-run speed in addition to the long-run speed. That has hurt us pretty bad the last couple of weeks but knowing how difficult it’s going to be to pass, I think we’ll put a little more emphasis on that and hopefully be able to get some stage points to give ourselves a chance to advance.” — Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• “We set goals of winning championships at the beginning of every season, and the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championship is one that’s a high priority. This championship is a result of a one-team effort from Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Petty GMS, Kaulig Racing, JTG Daugherty and Spire Motorsports. We’d also like to thank the Chevrolet engineers, drivers, crew chiefs and owners who are part of this championship.” — Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of performance and motorsports
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Kyle Larson backed up last Sunday’s victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a pole-winning run at Martinsville Speedway.
Though Larson has been eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, he’ll lead the field to green in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the race to decide which three drivers will join Joey Logano in the Nov. 6 Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway.
After locking up on his first lap in the final round, Larson was less aggressive on the lap that gave Larson his fourth Busch Light Pole Award of the season, his first at Martinsville and the 14th of his career.
“I kind of backed it down the second lap,” said Larson, who navigated the tight paper-clip-shaped .526-mile short track in 19.709 seconds (96.078 mph). “I feel like a lot of times here, slower is faster.
“I was just trying to be smooth with it. I’m surprised that I did anything good here at Martinsville. It’s a good start so far, and hopefully, we can keep it going tomorrow.”
Playoff drivers Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe tied for second fastest at 19.721 seconds (96.019 mph), with Elliott getting the front row nod because of higher standing in owner points. Elliott is 11 points above the current cutoff for the Championship 4 Round; Briscoe is 44 points below, needing a victory to advance to the title race.
Playoff driver Ryan Blaney qualified fourth at 95.927 mph. Non-playoff drivers claimed five of the next six positions, with ninth-place qualifier Ross Chastain the only other title-eligible driver to advance to the final round.
Denny Hamlin, five points behind William Byron for the final Championship 4 spot, will start 11th on Sunday. After a disappointing qualifying effort, Byron will take the green from 25th, five positions behind Christopher Bell, another playoff driver in a likely must-win situation.
Notes: Though Larson has been eliminated from the drivers’ championship, his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is still eligible for the owners’ title… Larson has started first at Martinsville on two previous occasions that don’t count as poles won. He was first in owner points in 2017 when time trials were rained out, and he started first in 2021 when grid positions were determined by metrics.
PRACTICE
Denny Hamlin posted the fastest lap in practice at 95.079 mph, his 19.916-second lap time besting Ryan Blaney by just .001 seconds on the leaderboard to the No. 12 Ford’s 95.075 mph lap. Chase Elliott (94.922 mph), Kyle Larson (94.870 mph) and Tyler Reddick (94.827 mph) completed the top five on the single-lap leaderboard.
With 500 laps ahead on Sunday, long-run speed will prove critical. Blaney excelled Saturday, boasting the best 10-lap average at 94.770 mph. William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five on the long run, while Christopher Bell, Larson, Cole Custer, Reddick and Hamlin completed the top 10.
Ross Chastain struggled the most of the playoff contenders not yet locked into the Championship 4. The No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet was 18th-quickest on the single-lap leaderboard and only improved to 16th overall on the 10-lap averages at 93.879 mph.
Joey Logano was slowest of all playoff drivers, placing 23rd in single-lap speeds at 94.153 mph and 18th in 10-lap averages at 93.835 mph.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Bubba Wallace said Saturday that he had a productive conversation with Kyle Larson after their on-track altercation two weeks ago, and that he has a better understanding of how to handle heated moments after NASCAR officials suspended him from last weekend’s Cup Series event.
Wallace was back at the track Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, returning to the NASCAR Cup Series garage after a one-week absence. He held court with reporters outside the 23XI Racing team haulers before practice and qualifying for Sunday’s Xfinity 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM), the next-to-last race of the season.
Wallace retaliated after an on-track incident with Larson two weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, first with an intentional bump that wrecked both their cars and the No. 20 entry of Toyota teammate Christopher Bell. He later shoved Larson multiple times after both drivers exited their cars.
Wallace apologized for the incident through his social media channels. Larson had said last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he didn’t feel an apology was necessary but considered the matter done.
“There’s a lot of good things going into this weekend. I’m not coming back with a vengeance or anything like that,” said Wallace, who was replaced by John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 45 Toyota last weekend. “I’m just going to continue to do what we’ve been doing. And for the record, I have talked to Larson, and we had a great conversation this week. I think the best thing for us is we both understood where our frustrations were and moving forward and how we both can handle those situations better.”
Larson won last weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami, and he claimed the pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session at Martinsville. After his pole lap, Larson said that he felt he had reached some common ground with Wallace as they look to turn the page.
“Yeah, it was great to have that talk,” Larson said. “I said the same thing. I came downstairs and told my wife that Bubba and I had a great conversation. I thought it went really well, and I think we’ve both moved on from it really fast. It was good to have a talk, good to just talk over the frustrations and mistakes on both of our parts. Move on and forget about it, and get back to racing. I feel like we’ve raced really well together in the past. Hopefully I don’t make any more mistakes and we can continue to race good.”
Wallace said that after the Vegas incident, conversations also took place during team meetings with 23XI management, who reminded him of the repercussions of placing the organization and its backers “in a bad light,” as he termed it. Wallace is in his second year with the Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan-owned team, and he was re-signed to a long-term contract extension in August.
“They were understanding of the heat-of-the-moment type things, but they were very adamant about how we need to handle those five seconds later,” Wallace said. “You need to think, like I said earlier, you need to think before you do. That was the biggest thing. They still support me, and we’re here. Just have to go out and continue to build this team up.”
Said Hamlin: “Listen, I trust Bubba’s words. We had long conversations with him internally, and I think that he would do things differently. This is not just words and PR talk. This is Bubba. You know, nobody asked him to tweet that he took a bite of humble pie. It’s something that Bubba has not had a whole lot of say, you know, those words in the past. I truly believe that he’s learned his lesson, he would do things differently. He’s young, and this is part of his growth.”
Wallace said that sitting out and disrupting his in-season weekly routine were among the toughest parts of his suspension. He added that he accepted the penalty and had discussions with NASCAR President Steve Phelps and Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell about the ruling.
“I definitely learned my lesson, but we have to be consistent with this no matter if it’s here at Martinsville or if it’s at Daytona or Talladega,” Wallace said. “We have to keep it consistent across the boards and across the series. That was the conversation; it was a good conversation.”
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – There won’t be any more ride-sharing for Big Machine Racing in 2023.
On Saturday at Martinsville, team owner Scott Borchetta revealed that Parker Kligerman has been hired as the full-time driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023.
Big Machine Racing joined the Xfinity Series in 2021, with Jade Buford as the primary driver. This season, the No. 48 team has divided up the schedule among 10 drivers, including Buford, Marco Andretti and a host of Cup Series regulars. Tyler Reddick delivered Big Machine its first win earlier this year, prevailing in May at Texas Motor Speedway.
Kligerman ran one race in the car this season, starting ninth and finishing sixth at Talladega Superspeedway. While doubling as a TV analyst and pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC, Kligerman also competed in 12 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for owner Charlie Henderson, winning the July race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
“The mission has always been to be with one driver and build the race team,” said Borchetta. “Parker brings experience and a huge desire to do this, and that was our first conversation: ‘Hey, do you still have the fire to go and run for a championship?’”
Kligerman’s answer was an enthusiastic “Yes.”
The tipping point for Kligerman was the Talladega race.
“This happened so fluidly, so seamlessly — it felt like when we did Talladega, it was just so seamless,” Kligerman said. “And the short span from talking to signing was quick. We were all aligned with the same goals, the same thought process…
“For me, in my career right now, I’ve told everybody that will listen, in the last two years, I’ve never driven better in my life.”
As his schedule permits, Kligerman also will continue to race the No. 75 truck for Henderson. The 32-year-old driver delivered the Abingdon, Virginia-based team both of its Truck Series wins — a 2017 victory at Talladega Superspeedway in addition to his triumph this year at Mid-Ohio.
Kligerman’s only full-time Xfinity Series campaign was a 2013 run for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
The season-opening Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will have a later start time next year, providing the opportunity to end the exhibition event under the stadium’s lights.
The main event is scheduled to start Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET), which is a half-hour before the typical sunset time for that time of year in Los Angeles. The move was announced on FOX Sports’ Race Hub news program on Friday night, exactly 100 days until the Clash is set to take center stage.
Last year’s feature was scheduled for a 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET) start time. A full weekend schedule for practice, qualifying and heats for the 2023 Busch Light Clash will be announced at a later time.
NASCAR officials announced June 12 that the exhibition would return for a second edition at the historic LA Coliseum. Joey Logano won the inaugural running on the temporary quarter-mile asphalt track earlier this year.
The Clash was held at Daytona International Speedway from 1979-2021.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Brandon Jones bolstered his chances of keeping his playoff run alive, winning the pole position in Friday’s qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Martinsville Speedway.
Jones posted a best lap of 95.482 mph in the final round of time trials at the historic .526-mile track, putting his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the first starting spot for Saturday’s Dead On Tools 250 (3 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, MRN, SiriusXM). His fifth pole of the season was the eighth of his Xfinity career.
Sheldon Creed will share the front row after sealing the second-fastest lap at 95.333 mph in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Sammy Smith landed the third-fastest lap with title contenders Ty Gibbs fourth and Noah Gragson completing the top five.
Jones is currently last in the Xfinity Series Playoffs standings, with a 38-point deficit to the provisional cut line. The 250-lapper is the last race in the postseason’s Round of 8, and Jones’ lone win this season came at Martinsville back in April.
The field will be whittled down to the four drivers who will race for the championship Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway.
“I don’t think that there’s any more added stress or anything there,” Jones said. “I mean, when it comes down to strategy, the race becomes very simple. You know, now that we don’t have to go out there and maybe run around for points, and at the end, you’re panicked to try to win the race. I mean, we have one goal in mind and it is to win the race. I don’t see a really a scenario that we points our way into this.”
Austin Hill did not post a qualifying speed after his Richard Childress Racing crew pushed the No. 21 Chevy back to the garage with a radiator issue. Hill currently ranks sixth out of the remaining title-eligible drivers.
Daniel Hemric also did not register a lap in qualifying after a crash during the preceding practice session. Hemric posted the sixth-fastest lap in practice, but his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet broke loose entering Turn 1 and made sizable contact with the outside retaining wall.
Dawson Cram and Ronnie Bassett Jr. failed to qualify.
Only one race remains before the Championship 4 is set and drivers are on their way to Phoenix Raceway to contend for the title. Take a look below at some unique props, pick the right answer and enter for a chance to win prizes.
Alex Bowman will return to the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway, the team announced Friday morning.
Bowman, a seven-time Cup Series winner, has been sidelined since suffering a concussion at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 25, missing each of the last four races. Bowman will miss Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway (2 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as Noah Gragson continues to fill in.
Bowman was cleared to return following a full evaluation by Dr. Michael “Micky” Collins, clinical director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, the team said in a release.
“We’re thrilled Alex is 100% and will have the opportunity to race at his home track,” Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, said in a statement. “Throughout this process, he’s been incredibly diligent about following the advice of his doctors and prioritizing his health. All of us look forward to welcoming Alex back and seeing him finish 2022 with his No. 48 teammates.”
Bowman was a contender in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs courtesy of his March win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His crash in the Round of 12 opener saddled him on the proverbial bench and ultimately led to his elimination from championship contention.
Crew chief Greg Ives previously announced he will step away from his role at the end of the 2022 season but will continue to work for Hendrick Motorsports. Ives and Bowman will have a proper farewell to their tenure together, which dates back to 2016 when Bowman substituted for Earnhardt Jr. Their most impressive run that year came when Bowman won the pole at Phoenix and led 194 laps en route to a sixth-place finish.
“Greg and I started something there in 2016 that we never got to finish,” Bowman, an Arizona native, said in a video posted to his social media accounts. “Hopefully we can get the job done. To have one final race with Greg is going to be really special.”
Bowman voiced his gratitude for the patience shown by both his team and sponsors as he put his health at the forefront of his concerns, effectively placing his safety ahead of his championship hopes this season.
“It’s been a long road and a lot of work,” Bowman said. “But excited to be back to 100% and be able to get back in a race car. … We’re going to finish the season strong and hopefully get one last win for Greg.”
DETROIT – Chevrolet clinched the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championship – its second year straight – with two races remaining in the season. The 2022 season marks the manufacturer’s series-leading 41st title in NASCAR’s premier series, captured in the debut season of the Next Gen Camaro ZL1.
“We set goals of winning championships at the beginning of every season, and the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championship is one that’s a high priority,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of performance and motorsports. “This championship is a result of a one-team effort from Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Petty GMS, Kaulig Racing, JTG Daugherty and Spire Motorsports. We’d also like to thank the Chevrolet engineers, drivers, crew chiefs and owners who are part of this championship.”
Chevrolet drivers put the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 in victory lane 19 times in 34 NASCAR Cup Series races thus far, more than its manufacturer competitors combined. Nine drivers from four different Chevrolet teams have contributed wins: Chase Elliott (five wins; series-leading); Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson (three wins each); Ross Chastain and William Byron (two wins each); and Alex Bowman, Daniel Suárez, Austin Dillon and Erik Jones (one win each). Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger also contributed to the points total that led to the championship title.
The NASCAR Cup Series regular season saw Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott take the title, with eight Chevrolet drivers advancing to the playoffs. Chevrolet went on to maintain 50% of the playoff field through the Round of 12, with three Chevrolet drivers remaining in the Round of 8 to compete for a spot in the Championship 4.
Chevrolet clinched the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Manufacturer’s Championship two weeks ago at Las Vegas with its 500th all-time series win.
“It’s great to see the momentum by the Chevrolet teams in both the Cup and Xfinity series that’s resulted in manufacturers’ championships in both series in back-to-back years,” Campbell said.
Phoenix Raceway will be the final stop of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, where the 312-mile championship race on Sunday, Nov. 6, will crown the Cup Series’ driver champion.
