NASCAR's short-track racing hasn't been great the past few years. Apparently, Sunday at Martinsville, all it took to make things better was some life-or-death playoff moments.

Ryan Blaney did his part, winning and earning a chance to defend his Cup Series championship.

Behind him, the math was in play to determine the fourth and final spot in next week's championship race at Phoenix. Then, in NFL fashion, it went to the replay booth to decide who would become the fourth driver at Phoenix next weekend with a shot at the Cup.

Let's do a quick review ...

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1. Ryan Blaney gets it done

A week ago, Ryan Blaney thought he had a win at Homestead, but Tyler Reddick sped past him in the final corner.

Blaney had no mathematical shot at reaching Phoenix with a championship shot without a win Sunday at Martinsville.

He got it, riding long-run speed past Chase Elliott in the late going and winning relatively comfortably.

"So proud of everybody," Blaney told the NBC television audience. "To have another shot at a championship is really special. Try to go back-to-back next week.

"I'm worn out. I've got nothing left. This car hung on longer than most."

2. Did Christopher Bell get too cozy with the wall?

Christopher Bell passed Bubba Wallace on the final lap to gain the finishing spot he needed to sit just ahead of William Byron in the playoff standings.

Problem was, Bell's pass involved a high-line drive to the wall. And he hugged the wall a bit too long, somewhat similar to Ross Chastain's "Hail Melon" at Martinsville two years ago, which was subsequently outlawed.

So to the booth it went, and the wait went on and on ...

In the end, it was called a "safety violation" and Bell's move was penalized.

The fourth championship driver, joining Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Blaney, is William Byron.

3. Next up for NASCAR: Championship weekend at Phoenix

What began nine-plus months earlier in Daytona Beach will come to a close next weekend in the Desert Southwest. NASCAR's Truck and Xfinity Series will also determine their 2024 champs in the same manner as the big-leaguers: four finalists, highest finisher gets the trophy.

Here's the lineup for the last hurrah of 2024.

Friday: Truck championship race, 8 p.m. (FS1). The four finalists: Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski and Corey Heim.

Saturday: Xfinity championship race, 7:30 p.m. (CW). Four finalists: Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier.

Sunday: Cup Series championship, 3 p.m. (NBC).

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR playoff final set: 3 takeaways from Martinsville; Booth decides