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It’s Playoff time, and that means it is a great time to look back on some of the most iconic moments in NASCAR Playoff history. NASCAR Classics has some great Playoff races available to watch RIGHT NOW! Here are the best.
The Martinsville fall race is routinely one of the most exciting races of the season, and 2017 was no exception. The race came down to a battle between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin, Hamlin spun Elliott out heading into turn three with a few laps to go. As Kyle Busch went on to bump Hamlin out of the way for the win, the focus turned after the race to Hamlin and Elliott.
The two exchanged words on the backstretch, and, on that night, the opinion of the fan base amongst the two drivers seemed to shift. Hamlin was met with a chorus of boos as he was interviewed, whereas Elliott was met with thunderous cheers.
The race that seemingly decided the 2012 Cup Series Championship. Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, and Clint Bowyer were all fighting for the Championship, but two had major trouble. Johnson blew a tire and ended the day in the garage.
Bowyer got into Jeff Gordon, and Gordon intentionally turned Bowyer into the wall. This set off a fight in the garage area, and Bowyer sprinted from pit road into the infield to confront Gordon. As all of this was happening. Kevin Harvick pulled away to another Phoenix win.
The first year of the win and you’re in Playoff system produced some incredible moments. Most notably, a great race at Phoenix to end the Round of Eight. Kevin Harvick, who was well behind in points, dominated to win the race easily and clinch his spot in the Championsip 4.
The final spot was decided on points between Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon. Newman pulled off a banzai move into the final corner of the final lap to get that one spot he needed, and he beat Gordon for that final Championship 4 spot.
The 2015 fall race at Martinsville was defined by revenge and a legend’s final taste of glory. Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano had a history during the earlier rounds of the Playoffs, and Kenseth took matters into his own hands after being taken out at Martinsville. Kenseth came back out onto the race track, and he intentionally wrecked Logano, giving Gordon the lead.
One of the greatest drivers in Martinsville history, Jeff Gordon, never looked back. As the sun set over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gordon went on to win his 93rd and final career race. It was the perfect way for a legend to go out.
Ross Chastain stole the show at Martinsville in the fall of 2022, but the final green flag run was something to behold. Differing tire strategies caused different drivers to be shuffled throughout the order. Christopher Bell worked his way up through the field to take the lead and clinch his spot in the Championship 4.
Ross Chastain, on the other hand, was a few points out. He did what he had to do, and the number 1 car rode the wall around turns three and four. He would pass all of the cars he needed to, and he got into the Championship 4.
Maybe some other great Playoff moments will be added to this list of NASCAR Classics. What are some of the other greatest Playoff races of all time?
