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.
Kyle Larson won’t qualify for the NASCAR Championship 4 that attracts all the attention, but he’s in the one that helps his team pay the bills.
Ross Chastain doesn’t need to win at Martinsville to make the Championship 4, but victories at the Virginia track come with a perk.
The parity that has defined the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season could extend into the Championship 4.
John Hunter Nemechek is subbing for the suspended Bubba Wallace but also aiming to book a return to the Championship 4 in the Camping World Truck Series.
Josh Berry has thrown an unexpected twist into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
AJ Allmendinger had every right to tear into his pit crew over a sloppy mistake, but the Xfinity Series regular-season champ held back.
Ryan Blaney might need a win in the Round of 8 to advance to the Championship 4 of the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.
Las Vegas kicks off the semifinal phase of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which will set the field for the Championship 4.
We’re not even out of the round of 12 yet, but Chase Elliott is already set up nicely for a return to the Championship 4 of the NASCAR Cup Series.
The top four in the current NASCAR Playoffs standings will likely be the four drivers in the Championship 4 at Phoenix.
