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Winners and losers at Martinsville Speedway

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Christopher Bell wins at Martinsville and Ross Chastain pulls off the move of the season on Denny Hamlin during the final lap to join Joey Logano and Chase Elliott in the Championship 4 at Phoenix.

A look at the winners and losers from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Martinsville Speedway:

WINNERS

Christopher Bell – Bell’s future at Joe Gibbs Racing seemed to be in doubt not that long ago. Now he is on the doorstep of a Cup Series championship, having won at Martinsville to earn that opportunity.

Ross ChastainHis last-lap, wall-riding charge might have been reckless, but it was perfectly executed and it will be the fodder of NASCAR talk for years. A season that began with Trackhouse Racing hoping to gain some ground will end with one of its drivers chasing NASCAR’s biggest prize.

Denny Hamlin – Hamlin led 203 laps Sunday at one of his favorite tracks but couldn’t close the door in the closing miles. Slow pit stops hurt him in the final stage.

LOSERS

Kyle Busch – Busch had one of his poorest races in recent memory, finishing six laps down in 30th.

Martin Truex Jr. – Truex typically is a threat at Martinsville. Sunday he was anything but, finishing two laps off the lead pace in 21st.

Brad Keselowski -- The former champion saw his best finish of the season -- fourth -- wiped out when his Ford failed post-race inspection because of failing to meet minimum weight requirements. He was dropped to last place.

Chase Briscoe – A pit gamble late in the race gave Briscoe the lead and a shot at the victory he needed to advance, but Briscoe’s older tires were no match for those chasing him, and he wound up ninth.