What playoff drivers are saying about last chance at Martinsville

It's a quick turnaround from Texas Motor Speedway to the Round of 8 finale of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Martinsville Speedway. For seven drivers, it'll be their last-ditch effort to make the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Here's what's left of the postseason field and what they had to say before 500 laps at the Virginia short track.

Joey Logano

Playoff position: Made Championship 4 with win at Kansas Speedway

Outlook: “I guarantee you I am sleeping better than any of them. ... The good thing is we’re locked into Phoenix already, so we’ll go to Martinsville on Sunday, have some fun and try to win another clock."

Kevin Harvick

Playoff position: Second in the standings, 42 points above the cutline

Outlook: "So there are a lot of scenarios that can take place, but in the end Martinsville is gonna be Martinsville, and then you put it as the final race to earn your way in and it will make it extra exciting."

Denny Hamlin

Playoff position: Third in the standings, 27 points above the cutline

Outlook: “We’ve got a great opportunity. We’re going to a race track that’s been fantastic for us in the past. I believe that we go there and lock up our spot and then go to Phoenix. Obviously love (Martinsville) and won that race last year. Certainly the stars are aligned for us to make it and hopefully we can finish the deal off."

Brad Keselowski

Playoff position: Fourth in the standings, 25 points above the cutline

Outlook: "I think there are other paths, but I think we've got a great shot at winning. I’m looking at starting from the pole. That’s a good feeling, and then I’m thinking about obviously the speed we've had to date on the short tracks and all those things combined, I feel pretty good."

Alex Bowman

Playoff position: Fifth in the standings, 25 points below the cutline

Outlook: "I think our goal was to make the Round of 8 and we made the Round of 8. Through the first two races, we had the best average finish of all the playoff guys through this round. I think we’re probably over-performing from what a lot of people thought we were going to do, but I think we have a lot more left in us, and I definitely feel like we're playing with house money."

Chase Elliott

Playoff position: Sixth in standings, 25 points below the cutline

Outlook: "Who knows how the race will shape up? A lot of circumstances kind of led to some of those big moments and the timely cautions and things of that nature, so who knows? I certainly couldn’t tell you whether it'll be fireworks or not, but my goal is to be fast enough where you don't allow fireworks. And that's the best way to deal with that."

Martin Truex Jr.

Playoff position: Seventh in the standings, 36 points below the cutline

Outlook: “It definitely gives us confidence. Any time we are going into a track where we have had past success, it’s good. We’ve got notes to work off of from the spring race. It's been good to us lately, but anything can happen at a short track. Just trying to be as prepared as we can, I think. The guys are ready, and we are going to do the best job we can and hopefully continue the success we have had there."

Kurt Busch

Playoff position: Eighth in the standings, 81 points below the cutline

Outlook: "Martinsville is a track where you're going to see all the front-runners running up front. Some are going to gamble on tires and have to race with elbows out and to move guys out of the way. And heck, you could be running third and the leaders take each other out and you get an invite to the championship round. There are going to be so many variables and so many wide-open chances for Martinsville; that's why NASCAR chose to put that track as the cutoff."