Power Rankings: Hamlin’s momentum crashes to halt ahead of desert showdown

8. Chase Elliott (--):
Comment: Elliott's task at Phoenix is simple: win or else. Though his last two ISM starts were his worst (23rd, 14th), the Hendrick Motorsports driver was runner-up in this race in 2017 and compiled a strong average finish of 6.8 through his first five races out west.

7. Kyle Larson (--):
Comment: Larson has a trio of top-three finishes at ISM from 2016 on (including this race last year) but has seen some up-and-down results there over 11 starts. He likely needs to win to move on, and he's led the field in just three of those 11 races.

6. Denny Hamlin (-4):
Comment: How fickle these playoffs can be, seeing as how Hamlin was ranked second here last week and appeared destined for Miami. He's now on the outside looking in and might need to win at ISM Raceway to advance. With a win there and a second-only-to-Harvick 12 top fives, he certainly could.

5. Ryan Blaney (--):
Comment: Blaney is also in that gray area of not technically needing to win, but for all intents and purposes ... he needs to win in order to advance. The Team Penske driver notched a P3 from the pole in the spring at ISM, his first top 10 there since 2016. Blaney tends to start fast (5.7 average start) but fade to the checkered (15.9 average finish).

4. Kyle Busch (+2):
Comment: Busch has to be thrilled with the points built up from his regular-season performance, as he's still on the precipice of making the Championship 4 despite an uncharacteristic playoffs. The winner of the last two ISM races and one of just two playoff drivers with multiple wins there makes him a strong likelihood to advance.

3. Joey Logano (--):
Comment: Logano is in great position to defend his title, but he's not locked in yet. The 2016 winner of the race was P37 last year after a crash, something that could certainly derail his championship hopes in an instant if it were to happen again.

2. Kevin Harvick (-+2):
Comment: The rich get richer. Harvick basically had a built-in safety net in the Round of 8 given his mastery of ISM Raceway, but he won't even need it. The Texas winner is already locked into Miami and has nothing to lose this weekend while going for his 10th Phoenix victory.

1. Martin Truex Jr. (--):
Comment: The spring's runner-up has never won at ISM in 27 starts (most winless starts among playoff drivers) but it doesn't matter much, anyway. The dominant Joe Gibbs Racing driver has his sights set on Miami, though it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see him add a trophy to his collection this weekend.