2022 South Point 400
# 2022 South Point 400

The 2022 South Point 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 16, 2022, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) asphalt intermediate speedway, it was the 33rd race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the seventh race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 8.

## Report

### Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

**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

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.425 seconds and a speed of 183.517 mph (295.342 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 29.425 | 183.517 |
| 2 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 29.452 | 183.349 |
| 3 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.453 | 183.343 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Tyler Reddick scored the pole for the race with a time of 29.252 and a speed of 184.603 mph (297.090 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.321 | 29.252 |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 29.250 | 29.302 |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.353 | 29.344 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 29.429 | 29.354 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 29.447 | 29.400 |
| 6 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 29.598 | 29.469 |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.395 | 29.474 |
| 8 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29.400 | 29.523 |
| 9 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 29.588 | 29.665 |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 29.616 | 29.711 |
| 11 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 29.468 | — |
| 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.495 | — |
| 13 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.509 | — |
| 14 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.509 | — |
| 15 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.606 | — |
| 16 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.617 | — |
| 17 | 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.626 | — |
| 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.634 | — |
| 19 | 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 29.638 | — |
| 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.656 | — |
| 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.658 | — |
| 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.667 | — |
| 23 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.693 | — |
| 24 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 29.720 | — |
| 25 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.743 | — |
| 26 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 29.847 | — |
| 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.857 | — |
| 28 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.918 | — |
| 29 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 29.947 | — |
| 30 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.982 | — |
| 31 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.001 | — |
| 32 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.063 | — |
| 33 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.307 | — |
| 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 30.378 | — |
| 35 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 30.386 | — |
| 36 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 30.581 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 80

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 85

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 102

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 58 |
| 2 | 11 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 267 | 42 |
| 3 | 18 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 35 |
| 4 | 16 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 33 |
| 5 | 31 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 38 |
| 6 | 1 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 33 |
| 7 | 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 36 |
| 8 | 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 29 |
| 9 | 21 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 0 |
| 10 | 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 27 |
| 11 | 17 | 48 | Noah Gragson (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 0 |
| 12 | 13 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 29 |
| 13 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 30 |
| 14 | 28 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 23 |
| 15 | 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 267 | 22 |
| 16 | 6 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 267 | 37 |
| 17 | 25 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 267 | 20 |
| 18 | 23 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 19 |
| 19 | 15 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 18 |
| 20 | 24 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 17 |
| 21 | 20 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 16 |
| 22 | 19 | 23 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 267 | 0 |
| 23 | 29 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 14 |
| 24 | 30 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 13 |
| 25 | 35 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 12 |
| 26 | 8 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 266 | 11 |
| 27 | 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 264 | 10 |
| 28 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 260 | 25 |
| 29 | 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 259 | 13 |
| 30 | 36 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 256 | 0 |
| 31 | 26 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 253 | 0 |
| 32 | 32 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 246 | 0 |
| 33 | 33 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 237 | 4 |
| 34 | 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 94 | 10 |
| 35 | 14 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 94 | 6 |
| 36 | 9 | 45 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 94 | 11 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 18 among 11 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 8 for 42 laps
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 4 minutes and 10 seconds
* Average speed: 130.480 miles per hour (209.987 km/h)

### Penalties

On October 18, NASCAR handed Bubba Wallace a one-race suspension for an intentional retaliatory right-rear hook collision against Kyle Larson that collected playoff contender Christopher Bell and resulted in physical confrontation between Wallace and Larson. Wallace was the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2015 (as a result of intentionally crashing into Joey Logano at that year's Martinsville playoff race) to be parked by NASCAR for on-track conduct; John Hunter Nemechek replaced Wallace for the Dixie Vodka 400.

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider 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 |

### Radio

The Performance Racing Network covered their final 2022 broadcast, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Nick Yeoman called the race from a billboard in turn 2, as he noted, at the Dan Wheldon memorial plaque when the field raced through turns 1 and 2 & Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Heather Debeaux, Brett McMillan, Brad Gillie and Wendy Venturini handled the duties on pit lane.

PRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Nick Yeoman Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Heather DeBeaux Brett McMillan Brad Gillie Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Joey Logano | 4,084 |
| 1 | 2 | Ross Chastain | 4,063 (–21) |
| 2 | 3 | Chase Elliott | 4,062 (–22) |
| 3 | 4 | Denny Hamlin | 4,051 (–33) |
| 1 | 5 | William Byron | 4,045 (–39) |
| 2 | 6 | Chase Briscoe | 4,042 (–42) |
| 2 | 7 | Ryan Blaney | 4,040 (–44) |
| 4 | 8 | Christopher Bell | 4,028 (–56) |
| | 9 | Kyle Larson | 2,206 (–1,878) |
| | 10 | Daniel Suárez | 2,199 (–1,885) |
| 1 | 11 | Tyler Reddick | 2,186 (–1,898) |
| 1 | 12 | Austin Cindric | 2,167 (–1,917) |
| | 13 | Austin Dillon | 2,161 (–1,923) |
| | 14 | Kyle Busch | 2,158 (–1,926) |
| | 15 | Alex Bowman | 2,104 (–1,980) |
| | 16 | Kevin Harvick | 2,035 (–2,049) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,215 |
| 2 | Ford | 1,144 (–71) |
| 3 | Toyota | 1,087 (–128) |
