Championship 4
The Championship 4 refers to the race capping off the playoffs in each of NASCAR’s three national series.
It’s the culmination of a multi-tiered playoff elimination system and pits the four finalists against each other, with the highest finisher earning the season championship.
In the case of the NASCAR Cup Series, 16 drivers qualify for the 10-race playoffs, carrying over whatever bonus points they earned during the 26-race regular season. At the end of the third race, the 12 drivers with the most points transfer into the next phase.
The second and third three-race phases each eliminate four more competitors, leaving just four to contend for the championship in the final race in early November.
Rick Hendrick was a surprising financial loser when Ross Chastain pulled off his amazing move to squeeze into the Championship 4.
Ross Chastain's miracle finish at Martinsville was a perfect representation of his entire 2022 season.
If NASCAR couldn't find a reason to discipline Ty Gibbs for his Martinsville actions, then the organization should have acted as a matter of preventing chaos in Phoenix on Saturday.
In retrospect, Denny Hamlin's disqualification at Pocono turned out to be a much bigger deal than anyone could know at the time.
Christopher Bell delivered in two must-win situations 22 days apart to make it into the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4.
In a season lacking a dominant driver, Denny Hamlin needed his team to rise to the task. They failed him in multiple ways all year.
Ty Gibbs' abhorrent treatment of Brandon Jones at Martinsville reminded many of the 2015 incident there between Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano.
One day after Ty Gibbs put himself over his team, Kyle Larson went in a different direction while helping Chase Elliott clinch a Championship 4 berth.
William Byron may have cost himself two sets of valuable stage points by qualifying 25th at Martinsville, where NASCAR will set its Championship 4 field.
The timing is perfect for Denny Hamlin to get his revenge on Ross Chastain.
