Once last chance!

After Kyle Larson took the checkered flag at Homestead-Miami Speedway last week, at least two of the final four drivers will get in on points. Currently Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and William Byron are above the cut line while Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe are all below the cut line and are looking for a win at the end of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. With his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Joey Logano is the only driver safe and assure a spot in the final four.

It’s the last race before the final four will race for the championship at Phoenix Raceway to end the 2022 season.

Looking for grip the drivers are running some very low air pressures on the left side of the cars.

After each group had a 20 minute practice session, Cody Ware is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posts a time of 20.940 seconds around the half mile track known as “the paper clip”. Drivers get two laps to make their best time around the track.

After missing a week due to a suspension, Bubba Wallace is the first driver to break the 20 second mark with a tiem of 19.924 seconds.

At the end of Group A Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, and Lyle Larson will all advance to the next round of qualifying.

BJ McLeod gets Group B qualifying started off with a time of 20.539 seconds.

Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, Harrison Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Ross Chastain will all move on to round two of qualifying from Group B.

Four of the eight playoff drivers are in the top 10.

With a time of 19.709 seconds Kyles his number five car on the pole with teammate Chase Elliott starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Xfinity 500:
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Blaney
Cole Custer
Brad Keselowski
Daniel Suarez
Kevin Harvick
Ross Chastain
Harrison Burton
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Michael McDowell
Corey LaJoie
Aric Almirola
Austin Dillon
Noah Gragson
Kyle Busch
Todd Gilliland
Chris Buescher
Erik Jones
Bubba Wallace
William Byron
Ty Gibbs
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick
Justin Haley
Austin Cindric
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ty Dillon
Landon Cassill
BJ McLeod
JJ Yeley
Cody Ware

Stages one and two of the race are 130 laps each with stage three lasting 240 laps for a total of 500 laps around the half mile track.

Drivers can run 145 to 155 laps on a single load of fuel. Once of the smallest and tightest pit roads on the circuit, pit road speeds are just 30mph. The pit boxes are only 14 feet wide and 28 feet long, giving the drivers little room to maneuver.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of the race before a sellout crowd from the outside lane with Chase Elliott on the inside. Larson jumps out in front for the lead with Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney battling for second.

Lap two, the top five are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Brad Keselowski

Lap eight, Kyle Larson has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 13, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to nearly a second on Chase Elliott.

Lap 16, Currently in fourth place, Chase Briscoe is still 29 points below the cut line and will have to win the race in order to avoid being eliminated from the final four.

Lap 19, Kyle Larson has a one second lead on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe,a nd Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 25, leader Kyle Larson has begun lapping slower cars. With the track only half a mile around, cars in the back of the field are already half a lap down.

Lap 31, Chase Elliott has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to half a second; Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five with 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 36, with slower traffic in front of them, Chase Elliott is only a quarter of a second in behind leader Kyle Larson.

Lap 40, there has been no change in the top five since the race start and very little passing through the field.

Lap 43, Justin Haley in 32nd is the last car on the lead lap.

Lap 44, Kyle Larson has a half a second lead on Chase Elliott; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five.

Ryan Blaney reports the drive has gone really bad.
Lap 48, Kyle Larson has a quarter of a second lead on Chase Elliott; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Cole Custer round out the top five.

Lap 57, Kyle Larson has a near half second lead on Chase Elliott; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Cole Custer round out the top five.

Lap 61, Kyle Larson jumped out in front for the lead on race start and has led every lap so far.

Lap 64, Kyle Busch has lost several spots since the race start, reporting that he is really really loose. The last car on the lead lap, Ty Gibbs is in 29th place.

Lap 68, now in 29th place, Kyle Busch is the first car one lap down.


Lap 69, Chase Elliott has finally caught up to his teammate Kyle Larson and passes for the lead; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Cole Custer round out the top five.

Lap 73, leader Chase Elliott just put Ty Gibbs in 28th one lap down.

Lap 77, Cole Custer bumps Ryan Blaney and sends him up the track; Blaney drops from fourth to sixth. Blaney reports that his car is undrivably loose.

Lap 84, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a lead of over half a second with Kyle Larson; Cole Custer, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe round out thet op five

Lap 87, Chase Elliott is now over a second in front of Kyle Larson.

Chase Briscoe is having some radio issues.

There are 25 cars on the lead lap with 40 laps remaining in stage one.

Lap 91, Christopher Bell started the race in 22nd place and has moved up to 12th; but he is still at the bottom of the cut line, 49 points below.

Lap 95, Chase Elliott has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Kyle Larson.

Lap 96, Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Larson but is two seconds behind the leader Chase Elliott.

Lap 98 and there are only 22 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 105, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin; Cole Custer, Kyle Larson, and Chase Brisoce round out the top five with 21 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 110, Denny Hamlon has closed the gap on leader Chase Elliott to just a quarter of a second.

Lap 114, Denny Hamlin is just a tenth of a second behind leader Chase Elliott.

Lap 116, Denny Hamlin bumps Chase Elliott but he holds on to the car. During driver introductions home state driver Denny Hamlin was booed because during one race, Hamlin took out Chase Elliott to win the race. With eleven laps remaining in stage one, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott battle for the lead. Lap 120 Denny Hamlin take the lead; he is now just below Joey Logano in the playoff list and would make it in the final four.

Seven laps remain in stage one; the top five are Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Cole Custer, Kyle Larson, and Chase Briscoe.

Leaders have encountered a lot of slower traffic.

Lap 128, Denny Hamlin puts William Byron one lap down; there are only 17 cars on the lead lap.

Denny Hamlin wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Cole Custer
Kyle Larson
Chase Briscoe
Brad Keselowski
Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Daniel Suarez

William Byron is the “lucky dog” and is back on the lead lap.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road and Chase Elliott out second.

Chase Briscoe gives up fifth place after leaving pit road with the fuel can and is charged with leaving pit road with equipment. He will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Chase Elliott alongside on lap 140. Hamlin waited until the very las second of the restart zone before restarting the race.

The top five are Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell.

The drivers are beginning to get a little more aggressive after a fairly calm stage one. The bumping and banging has begun.

Lap 148, while there are only 18 cars on the lead lap; all of the drivers are still in the race with Kyle Busch in last place four laps down after having some major handling issues.

Lap 152, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 161, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 168, Denny Hamlin’s lead over Chase Elliott has been cut to under a second; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five with 18 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 174, Chase Elliott has cut the lead to Denny Hamlin to under half a second.

Lap 181, Denny Hamlin has a lead of half a second on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 191, Tyler Reddick is the first driver out of the race reporting that he is not feeling well. Owner Richard Childress asked if there were any drivers available to driver the remainder of the race. Reddick is beig taken to the infield care center.

Lap 197, Denny Hamlin has increased his lead on Chase Elliott and now has a lead of over two seconds; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five with 18 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 204, Denny Hamlin continues to lead the race with a lead of over two seconds on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 206, Ryan Blaney makes contact with Brad Keselowski as they battle for position; but the track stays green.

Lapa 216, Denny Hamlin holds a lead of over two seconds on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five with just 16 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 224, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of over three seconds on Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 227, as it stands now, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain would be the four drivers to battle for the championship in Phoenix with William Byron Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe being eliminated from the playoffs.

Lap 232, BJ McLeod makes an unscheduled trip down pit road when his car catches on fire. McLeod reports that there was no damage to the car that caused the fire.

Denny Hamlin passes Michael McDowell to make just 15 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 242, Denny Hamlin continues to extend his lead and is now over four seconds in front of Chase Elliott; Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, and Christopher Bell round out the top five with just 14 cars on the lead lap.

With 15 laps remaining in stage two, Denny Hamlin has passed Harrison Burton to leave just 13 drivers on the lead lap.

Seven laps remain in stage two, Denny Hamline has a five second lead on Chase Elliott with just 13 cars on the lead lap. Only five of the cars not on the lead lap are just one lap down.

Two laps remain in stage two and Denny Hamlin has a lead of over six seconds on Chase Elliott as he stalks Kevin Harvick.

Denny Hamlin wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Kyle Larson
Cole Custer
Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
Ross Chastain
Daniel Suarez

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road and Kyle Larson coming out second.

The drivers will have to make at least one pit stop during stage three in order to make it to the end of the race.

JJ Yeley comes down pit road and is also on fire.

NBC reports that Tyler Reddick was checked and released from the infield care center but chose not to communicate with reporters.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 272 from the inside lane with Kyle Larson on the outside and jumps out in front to hold on to the lead. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott battle for second.

The top five are Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kylearson, and Cole Custer, and Ryan Blaney.

Brad Keselowski and Ross Chastain make contact sending Keselowski into the wall; bringing out the first caution flag of the race for an on track incident. Ross Chastain comes down pit road to check for damage. Brad Keselowski reports no major damage to his car.

Joey Logano makes an unscheduled tip down pit road. He reports a fire in the left front of the car. Logano is the third car – a Ford – to have a fire issue in today’s race.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 281 and gets out in front to hold on to the lead; Chase Elliott, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney battles with Kyle Larson for fifth with 215 las remaining in the race.

Lap 286, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Chase Elliott; Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 289, Daniel Suarez passes Bubba Wallace for seventh. It has been a very quiet day for Wallace after his one week suspension.

BJ McLeod is out of the race. JJ Yeley returns to the track seven laps down. Joey Logano is also back in the race in 14th place.

Lap 297, Denny Hamlin has a lead of nearly a second on Chase Elliott; Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five with 15 cars on the lead lap.

Two hundred laps remaining in the race, Denny Hamlin continues to lead the race and is half a second in front of Chase Elliott; Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 313, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five. Hamlin has led over 190 laps so far.

With 182 laps remaining in the race, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Chase Elliott.

Austin Dillon brings out the caution flag when he crashes into the wall on lap 320. Dillon tried to refire the car before climbing out. He hit the right rear and right front hard.

Chase Briscoe is the “lucky dog”.

Denny Hamlin dodged a major bullet when he almost came down pit road while it was closed and barely avoid a commitment cone violation.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road followed by Ryan Blaney. Denny Hamlin comes out in fourth place. With 167 laps remaining in the race, the drivers may not be able to finish the race without making another stop.

Several drivers stayed out on the track to take the wave around.

Austin Dillon is out of the care center and is fine.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ryan Blaney alongside and jumps out in front for the lead.

Lap 331 the top five are Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin.

Lap 335, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Hamlin is now just five points above the cut line.

Lap 338, Brad Keselowski barely misses taking out Kevin Harvick when he gets into the curve hard.

Lap 340, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five with 18 cars on the lead lap.

Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Larson for fourth.

Joey Logano locked in a spot in the final four with his win at Las Vegas; currently Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin are above the cut line.

Lap 351, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five. After leading over 100 laps and sweeping both stages to earn 20 points, Denny Hamlin is only six points above the cut line.

Lap 355, Christopher Bell has increased his lead to over a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 361, the top four drivers are all playoff drivers – Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin; Kyle Larson round out the top five.

With 137 laps remaining in the race, there are 17 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 370, 130 to go, drivers are getting three wide across the track in a battle for position as the laps continue to count down.

Lap 375, Christopher Bell continues to lead the race with a lead of two and a half seconds on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 379, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a three second lead on Chase Elliott.

All of the drivers who took the wave around at the last caution will have to come down pit road for fuel; some drivers are being told that they are a few laps short on fuel. Aric Almirola’s crew has said that they are good on fuel.

With 113 laps remaining in the race, Christopher Bell has a lead of nearly three and a half seconds on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Joey Logano’s crew reports that he is four laps short on fuel.

JJ Yeley brings out the caution flag on lap 393 when he gets into the wall.

Drivers come down pit road including the leaders. Christopher Bell comes off of pit road first with Ryan Blaney in second and Chase Elliott in third.

The top two drivers Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney are both in a must win situation to make it into the final four. Denny Hamlin is just two points above the cut line.

Having a slow stop on pit road, Denny Hamlin came out in sixth place.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with 97 laps remaining in the race. Bell and Blaney go side by side before Bell gets out in front for the lead. Drivers are getting more aggressive as they battle for position.

Drivers get three wide in a battle for position.

Lap 406, Christopher Bell leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hmlin round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney is the only playoff driver not to have a race win this season.

Lap 421, 80 to go, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. As it stands Bell, Elliott, and Hamlin would join Joey Logano in the final four.

Lap 439, Christopher Bell has a one second lead on Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Deny Hamlin round out the top five.

Leader Christopher Bell makes contact with Austin Cindric who is three laps down but the track stays green.

Fifty six laps remain in the race, Christopher Bell’s lead is down to a third of a second on Ryan Blaney.

Lap 449, Christopher Bell has a near half second lead on Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five with 17 cars on the lead lap.

Just 40 laps remain in the race, Christopher Bell leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson ,and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Bell has pulled out to a lead of a second and a half. Denny Hamlin is just four points above the cut line; which put Ross Chastain four points below the cut line.

The caution flag comes out with just 34 laps to go when Landon Cassill gets into the wall. There are some flames coming out of the right front of the car.

Drivers come down pit road including the leaders with Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer staying out on the track. There are 17 cars on the lead lap. Taking only two tires Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski win the race off of pit road.

After staying out on the track, Chase Briscoe brings the field down for the green flag restart with Cole Custer alongside with just 24 laps remaining in the race. Briscoe gets out in front for the lead with Cole Custer in second; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the t op five.

Battling for eleventh place, Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin battle back and forth making contact, nearly sending each other into the wall. There are just two points separating the two for a spot in the final four.

Chase Briscoe has a lead of over half a second on Cole Custer; Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 484, Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski battle for position but Kyle Larson comes up and passes for Bell for fourth.

Fourteen to go, the drivers who took tires are beginning to kick in, with 13 laps to go, Chase Briscoe has a one second lead on Brad Keselowski; Cole Custer, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin are tied at the cut line. If the two tie, Ross Chastain wins the tie breaker.

Ten to go, Chase Briscoe’s lead is down to half a second on Brad Keselowski with Christopher Bell in third.

Eight to go, Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski battle for second with Chase Briscoe just a few car lengths in front.

Christopher Bell takes second with six to go.

Five to go, Christopher Bell bumps Chase Briscoe and passes to take the lead. Ross Chastain battles with Chase Elliott for position and hopes of a spot in the final four.

Three to go, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a seocnd on Kyle Larson.

Christopher Bell takes the white flag!

Repeating his actions at The Roval, Christopher Bell wins the race for a spot in the final four! This is win number 200 for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Ross Chastain rides the wall to pass for a spot to beat out Denny Hamlin for the final spot in the final four. He went from tenth to fifth to win the spot. In only their second year of operation, Trackhouse Racing has a driver in the final four and a chance to win a championship. NBC broadcasters report that Chastain’s final lap was 18.845 seconds! The lap set a new Martinsvillle track record.



The four drivers that will battle for the championship are Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Ross Chastain.

When he gets out of the car, Christopher Bell yells, “Mom and Dad we did it!” Bell said that words can’t describe how he feels.

Ross Chastain notes that he had done the move in the video racing game and wondered if it would really work.

The unofficial results of the Xfinity 500:
Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Ross Chastain
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Chase Briscoe
Chase Elliott
Harrison Burton
Daniel Suarez
Todd Gilliland
Cole Custer
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
Michael McDowell
Erik Jones
Ty Gibbs
Martin Truex Jr
Corey LaJoie
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
AJ Allmendinger
Chris Buescher
Noah Gragson
Austin Cindric
Justin Haley
Cody Ware
Kyle Busch
JJ Yeley
Ty Dillon
Landon Cassill
Austin Dillon
BJ McLeod
Tyler Reddick