# 2022 Xfinity 500

The 2022 Xfinity 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 30, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) short track, it was the 35th race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the ninth race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 8.
This race, won by Christopher Bell, was noted for Ross Chastain's "Hail Melon" finish, in which Chastain rode the wall in a move described as similar to those done in racing video games to secure a fourth-place finish that locked him to the Championship 4 race. Chastain's move also set an all-new track record.

## Report
### Background

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track is also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only NASCAR oval track on the entire NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, then concrete to cover the turns.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 19.916 seconds and a speed of 95.079 mph (153.015 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.916 | 95.079 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 19.917 | 95.075 |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.949 | 94.922 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 19.709 and a speed of 96.078 mph (154.623 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.733 | 19.709 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.683 | 19.721 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.659 | 19.721 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 19.814 | 19.740 |
| 5 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.718 | 19.780 |
| 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 19.754 | 19.783 |
| 7 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 19.774 | 19.810 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.752 | 19.822 |
| 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 19.753 | 19.828 |
| 10 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 19.742 | 19.933 |
| 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.763 | — |
| 12 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 19.766 | — |
| 13 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 19.788 | — |
| 14 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.825 | — |
| 15 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 19.829 | — |
| 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.839 | — |
| 17 | 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.845 | — |
| 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.849 | — |
| 19 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 19.861 | — |
| 20 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.882 | — |
| 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 19.888 | — |
| 22 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 19.891 | — |
| 23 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.898 | — |
| 24 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 19.924 | — |
| 25 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19.942 | — |
| 26 | 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 19.943 | — |
| 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 19.958 | — |
| 28 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 19.980 | — |
| 29 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 19.987 | — |
| 30 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 19.998 | — |
| 31 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 20.086 | — |
| 32 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.103 | — |
| 33 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 20.210 | — |
| 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 20.247 | — |
| 35 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 20.356 | — |
| 36 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 20.840 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race

Heading into the finish, Ross Chastain clinched his spot into the Championship 4 by the way of a last-ditch wall-ride that has been described as a "video game-like move" in the final lap. Chastain's move also set a new Cup Series lap record on the track at 18.845 seconds. The move has been dubbed the Hail Melon by many in the sport. Christopher Bell's race victory also placed him into the championship race, with Joey Logano (who won a race in the Round of 8) and Chase Elliott also advancing.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 130
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 130
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 240
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 20 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 51 |
| 2 | 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 50 |
| 3 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 43 |
| 4 | 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 500 | 39 |
| 5 | 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 52 |
| 6 | 12 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 35 |
| 7 | 25 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 30 |
| 8 | 24 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 500 | 30 |
| 9 | 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 34 |
| 10 | 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 45 |
| 11 | 10 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 26 |
| 12 | 7 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 500 | 29 |
| 13 | 19 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 24 |
| 14 | 5 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 38 |
| 15 | 15 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 23 |
| 16 | 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 21 |
| 17 | 13 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 20 |
| 18 | 23 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 19 |
| 19 | 26 | 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 498 | 0 |
| 20 | 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 498 | 17 |
| 21 | 14 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 16 |
| 22 | 31 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 15 |
| 23 | 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 |
| 24 | 22 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 497 | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 0 |
| 26 | 30 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 497 | 11 |
| 27 | 29 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 10 |
| 28 | 36 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 495 | 9 |
| 29 | 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 494 | 8 |
| 30 | 35 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 |
| 31 | 32 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 466 | 6 |
| 32 | 33 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 460 | 0 |
| 33 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 316 | 4 |
| 34 | 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 225 | 0 |
| 35 | 28 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 2 |
| DSQ | 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 500 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 8 among 5 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 6 for 53
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 24 minutes and 18 seconds
* Average speed: 77.239 miles per hour (124.304 km/h)

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 1997 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2014 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBC :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider Dillon Welch |

### Radio

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 7 time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace had the call for MRN when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody covered the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstraightway into turn 3. Steve Post, Winston Kelley, Brienne Pedigo and Kim Coon covered the action for MRN from pit lane.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dave Moody | Steve Post Winston Kelley Brienne Pedigo Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Joey Logano | 5,000 |
| 5 | 2 | Christopher Bell | 5,000 (–0) |
| 1 | 3 | Ross Chastain | 5,000 (–0) |
| 1 | 4 | Chase Elliott | 5,000 (–0) |
| | 5 | Denny Hamlin | 2,350 (–2,650) |
| 2 | 6 | William Byron | 2,339 (–2,661) |
| 2 | 7 | Kyle Larson | 2,316 (–2,684) |
| 2 | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 2,300 (–2,700) |
| 1 | 9 | Daniel Suárez | 2,259 (–2,741) |
| 2 | 10 | Chase Briscoe | 2,244 (–2,756) |
| | 11 | Austin Dillon | 2,204 (–2,796) |
| 1 | 12 | Austin Cindric | 2,198 (–2,802) |
| 1 | 13 | Tyler Reddick | 2,197 (–2,803) |
| | 14 | Kyle Busch | 2,194 (–2,806) |
| | 15 | Alex Bowman | 2,104 (–2,896) |
| | 16 | Kevin Harvick | 2,085 (–2,915) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,290 |
| 2 | Ford | 1,210 (–80) |
| 3 | Toyota | 1,158 (–132) |