Christopher Bell Wins Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and Advances to Championship 4

by Ed Turner

NBC Sports

MARTINSVILLE, VA – RIS -Christopher Bell, driving the #20 DeWalt Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, won the 74th Annual Xfinity 500, for his fourth victory in 107 NASCAR Cup Series Races, his first victory at Martinsville Speedway and his third victory in 2022.

Second place finisher Kyle Larson posted his fourth top-10 finish in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway after starting from the pole position.

Third place finisher Ryan Blaney posted his eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Martinsville Speedway but failed to advance to the Championship 4. His thought on the final restart was that it was wild but he just didn’t get through traffic as well as race winner Christopher Bell.

#6 Brad Keselowski had a strong run and finished in 4th position.

5th place finisher, Ross Chastain had the most spectacular finish that will make highlight reels and commercials for years as he mashed the gas in turn 3 and sped along scraping the wall moving from 15th to 5th place to earn his way into the final four Playoffs Championship. He reportedly ran 2 seconds faster than the pole winning speed while passing Denny Hamlin at the start finish line.

Harrison Burton (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.

The Xfinity 500 race had a mild start and run throughout the 130 laps of Stage one which was caution free. Pole winner Kyle Larson led the first 68 laps, Chase Elliott led laps 69 through 120 and Denny Hamlin led laps 121 through 323 which included winning Stages 1 (lap 130) and 2 (ended lap 260).

Stage 3 comprised the final section of the race from lap 261 through race end lap 500. #20 Christopher Bell took over the lead on lap 324 through lap 395. A caution (#5) for a hard hit in turn ¾ by the #3 of Austin Dillon brought choices for pit stops and some position changes. Chase Elliot led lap 396 then Christopher Bell regained the lead for laps 397-469. Chase led another lap and then #14 Chase Briscoe inherited the lead by not pitting under caution. The strategy worked for several laps (471-495), but Briscoe eventually faded and finished 10th.

Christopher Bell then worked his way to the front to lead the final laps of 496-500.

#22 Joey Logano (P) 2018 champion, #9 Chase Elliott (P) 2020 champion, #20 Christopher Bell (P) 3 wins this season and Ross Chastain (P) 2 wins this season have advanced to the

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round which will run next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway (1:30 PM ET)

The race run time was 3 hours, 24 minutes and 18 seconds with an average speed of 77.239 MPH and a 0.869 second margin of victory.

The next and final race is November 6, 2022 at Phoenix Raceway

Unofficial Results: 74th Annual Xfinity 500, October 30, 2022, Martinsville Speedway
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps , St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 20, Christopher Bell (P), 20, DeWalt Toyota, 500, 7, 5, 3, 150, 5, 50, Running
2) 1, Kyle Larson (P), 5, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 500, 4, 3, 1, 68, , 50, Running
3) 4, Ryan Blaney (P), 12, Discount Tire Ford, 500, 8, 6, , , , 42, Running
4) 6, Brad Keselowski, 6, Kohler Generators Ford, 500, 6, 7, , , , 42, Running
5) 9, Ross Chastain (P), 1, Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, 500, 9, 9, , , , 36, Running
6) 11, Denny Hamlin (P), 11, FedEx Freight Direct Toyota, 500, 1, 1, 1, 203, 2, 51, Running
7) 12, Joey Logano (P), 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 500, , 8, , , , 33, Running
8) 25, William Byron (P), 24, Liberty University Chevrolet, 500, , , , , , 29, Running
9) 24, Bubba Wallace, 45, Leidos Toyota, 500, , , , , , 28, Running
10) 3, Chase Briscoe (P), 14, Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford, 500, 5, , 1, 25, , 33, Running
11) 2, Chase Elliott (P), 9, NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 500, 2, 2, 3, 54, , 44, Running
12) 10, Harrison Burton #, 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 500, , , , , , 25, Running
13) 7, Daniel Suarez, 99, Worldwide Expess Chevrolet, 500, 10, 10, , , , 26, Running
14) 19, Todd Gilliland #, 38, Moji Sushi Ford, 500, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 5, Cole Custer, 41, HaasTooling.com Ford, 500, 3, 4, , , , 37, Running
16) 15, Aric Almirola, 10, Smithfield Ford, 500, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 8, Kevin Harvick, 4, BOOsch Light Ford, 500, , , , , , 20, Running
18) 13, Michael McDowell, 34, Fr8Auctions.com Ford, 500, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 23, Erik Jones, 43, U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, 498, , , , , , 18, Running
20) 26, Ty Gibbs(i), 23, Monster Energy Toyota, 498, , , , , , 0, Running
21) 27, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, 498, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 14, Corey LaJoie, 7, ARK.io Chevrolet, 498, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 31, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, Kroger/Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet, 498, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 21, AJ Allmendinger(i), 16, Pardon My Cheesesteak Chevrolet, 498, , , , , , 0, Running
25) 22, Chris Buescher, 17, Fifth Third Bank Ford, 497, , , , , , 12, Running
26) 17, Noah Gragson(i), 48, Ally Chevrolet, 497, , , , , , 0, Running
27) 30, Austin Cindric #, 2, Menards/Richmond Ford, 497, , , , , , 10, Running
28) 29, Justin Haley, 31, LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 497, , , , , , 9, Running
29) 36, Cody Ware, 51, Nurtec ODT UBCF Ford, 495, , , , , , 8, Running
30) 18, Kyle Busch, 18, M&M's Halloween Toyota, 494, , , , , , 7, Running
31) 35, JJ Yeley(i), 15, Rad Cats Ford, 488, , , , , , 0, Running
32) 32, Ty Dillon, 42, U.S. Space Force Chevrolet, 466, , , , , , 5, Brakes
33) 33, Landon Cassill(i), 77, Nations Guard Chevrolet, 460, , , , , , 0, Accident
34) 16, Austin Dillon, 3, Dow Chevrolet, 316, , , , , , 3, Accident
35) 34, BJ McLeod(i), 78, Motorsport Games Halloween Ford, 225, , , , , , 0, Fire
36) 28, Tyler Reddick, 8, 3CHI Chevrolet, 188, , , , , , 1, Accident
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Race Length: 500 Laps - 263 miles
Time: 3 Hrs, 24 Mins, 18 sec
Average Speed: 77.239 mph
Margin of Victory: 0.869 sec

Stage 1 Top 10: 11, 9, 41, 5, 14, 6, 20, 12, 1, 99
Stage 2 Top 10: 11, 9, 5, 41, 20, 12, 6, 22, 1, 99

Comments: Christopher Bell has won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, his fourth career victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Prior to the start, no vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty.

Cautions: 6 for 53 laps;
Laps: 132-139 (Stage 1 Conclusion [24]);
262-271 (Stage 2 Conclusion [21]);
274-280 (No. 1, 6 Incident Turn 3 [24]);
321-329 (No. 3 Incident Turn 4 [14]);
394-403 (No. 15 Spin Turn 3 [38]);
468-476 (No. 77 Incident Turn 3 [34]).

Lead Changes: 8 among 5 drivers;
K. Larson (P) 1-68;
C. Elliott (P) 69-120;
D. Hamlin (P) 121-323;
C. Bell (P) 324-395;
C. Elliott (P) 396;
C. Bell (P) 397-469;
C. Elliott (P) 470;
C. Briscoe (P) 471-495;
C. Bell (P) 496-500.

Race Length: 500 Laps - 263 miles
Time: 3 Hrs, 24 Mins, 18 sec
Average Speed: 77.239 mph
Margin of Victory: 0.869 sec

Stage 1 Top 10: 11, 9, 41, 5, 14, 6, 20, 12, 1, 99
Stage 2 Top 10: 11, 9, 5, 41, 20, 12, 6, 22, 1, 99

Comments: Christopher Bell has won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, his fourth career victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Prior to the start, no vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty.

Unofficial Points: 74th Annual Xfinity 500: Martinsville Speedway
Rank, Driver, Car, Starts, GL, Points, Ldr, Nxt, Race Wins, Stage Wins, Playoff Pts
1) Joey Logano (P), 22, 35, 0, 5000, 0, 0, 3, 6, 26
2) Christopher Bell (P), 20, 35, 5, 5000, 0, 0, 3, 4, 18
3) Ross Chastain (P), 1, 35, -1, 5000, 0, 0, 2, 6, 21
4) Chase Elliott (P), 9, 35, -1, 5000, 0, 0, 5, 6, 46
5) Denny Hamlin (P), 11, 35, 0, 2349, -2651, 2651, 2, 5, 13
6) William Byron (P), 24, 35, -2, 2338, -2662, 11, 2, 4, 15
7) Kyle Larson (P), 5, 35, 2, 2316, -2684, 22, 3, 6, 20
8) Ryan Blaney (P), 12, 35, -2, 2299, -2701, 17, 0, 8, 15
9) Daniel Suarez, 99, 35, 1, 2256, -2744, 43, 1, 2, 7
10) Chase Briscoe (P), 14, 35, -2, 2243, -2757, 13, 1, 4, 9
11) Austin Dillon, 3, 35, 0, 2203, -2797, 40, 1, 0, 5
12) Austin Cindric #, 2, 35, 1, 2197, -2803, 6, 1, 1, 6
13) Tyler Reddick, 8, 35, -1, 2196, -2804, 1, 3, 2, 17
14) Kyle Busch, 18, 35, 0, 2193, -2807, 3, 1, 3, 10
15) Alex Bowman, , 30, 0, 2104, -2896, 89, 1, 2, 7
16) Kevin Harvick, 4, 35, 0, 2084, -2916, 20, 2, 0, 12
17) Martin Truex Jr, 19, 35, 0, 1000, -4000, 1084, 0, 7, 0
18) Erik Jones, 43, 35, 0, 807, -4193, 193, 1, 0, 5
19) Bubba Wallace, 45, 34, 1, 747, -4253, 60, 1, 2, 5
20) Aric Almirola, 10, 35, -1, 741, -4259, 6, 0, 0, 0
21) Chris Buescher, 17, 34, 0, 710, -4290, 31, 1, 0, 5
22) Justin Haley, 31, 35, 0, 688, -4312, 22, 0, 0, 0
23) Brad Keselowski, 6, 35, 1, 668, -4332, 20, 0, 1, 1
24) Michael McDowell, 34, 35, -1, 650, -4350, 18, 0, 0, 0
25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, 47, 35, 0, 574, -4426, 76, 0, 0, 0
26) Cole Custer, 41, 35, 0, 567, -4433, 7, 0, 0, 0
27) Harrison Burton #, 21, 35, 0, 554, -4446, 13, 0, 0, 0
28) Todd Gilliland #, 38, 35, 1, 522, -4478, 32, 0, 0, 0
29) Ty Dillon, 42, 35, -1, 506, -4494, 16, 0, 0, 0
30) Kurt Busch, , 20, 0, 485, -4515, 21, 1, 2, 0
31) Corey LaJoie, 7, 35, 0, 446, -4554, 39, 0, 0, 0
32) Cody Ware, 51, 34, 0, 297, -4703, 149, 0, 0, 0
33) David Ragan, , 4, 0, 89, -4911, 208, 0, 0, 0
34) Joey Hand, , 6, 0, 64, -4936, 25, 0, 0, 0
35) Greg Biffle, , 5, 0, 24, -4976, 40, 0, 0, 0
36) Jacques Villeneuve, , 1, 0, 15, -4985, 9, 0, 0, 0
37) Mike Rockenfeller, , 2, 0, 15, -4985, 0, 0, 0, 0
38) Boris Said, , 1, 0, 11, -4989, 4, 0, 0, 0
39) Kyle Tilley, , 2, 0, 8, -4992, 3, 0, 0, 0
40) Conor Daly, , 1, 0, 3, -4997, 5, 0, 0, 0
41) Kimi Raikkonen, , 1, 0, 1, -4999, 2, 0, 0, 0
42) AJ Allmendinger(i), 16, 17, 0, 0, -5000, 1, 0, 0, 0
43) Landon Cassill(i), 77, 16, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
44) Noah Gragson(i), 48, 18, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
45) BJ McLeod(i), 78, 28, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
46) Daniel Hemric(i), , 8, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
47) Ty Gibbs(i), 23, 15, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
48) Josh Bilicki(i), , 16, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
49) Zane Smith(i), , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
50) Austin Hill(i), , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
51) Garrett Smithley(i), , 5, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
52) JJ Yeley(i), 15, 19, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
53) Kaz Grala(i), , 3, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
54) Josh Williams(i), , 3, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
55) Ryan Preece(i), , 2, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
56) John Hunter Nemechek(i), , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
57) Justin Allgaier(i), , 2, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
58) Parker Kligerman(i), , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
59) Loris Hezemans(i), , 5, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
60) Scott Heckert(i), , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
61) Daniil Kvyat, , 3, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
62) Andy Lally(i) , 1, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
63) Timmy Hill(i), , 0, 0, 0, -5000, 0, 0, 0, 0
-Ldr/-Nxt = Points behind Leader/Next higher, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Ed Turner

Staff Writer and editor for RIS since 2001. Been attending NASCAR and stock car races since my dad starting taking me in 1960 at the age of 5.