Kansas preview: Best, worst outlooks for Round of 8 opener

The field of NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders has been narrowed to eight and the margin for error is slimming quickly, as the series heads to Kansas Speedway. Just three races away from the final cut before the season finale, NASCAR.com ranks which drivers have the best and worst outlooks heading into this weekend's showdown.

BEST: Denny Hamlin

Average finish at Kansas: 14.5 (fifth among remaining playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: Winner (also won in 2019 and 2012)

Comment: Hamlin has won two consecutive races at Kansas, pulling him into a first-place tie for wins here among active drivers with three. In last year’s playoff race, Hamlin dominated and led 153 of the 277 laps despite starting in 23rd. If Kevin Harvick has been the favorite at 1.5-mile tracks this season, Hamlin has been right on his heels. A three-peat might be in the cards.

BEST: Chase Elliott

Average finish at Kansas: 11.6 (second among remaining playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: 12th (won in 2018)

Comment: Elliott has raced exceptionally well at Kansas during the fall throughout his career, collecting a fourth-place result in 2017, a win in 2018 and a runner-up finish in last season’s playoffs. The 2019 battle with Denny Hamlin in the closing laps could reoccur, as both drivers have showcased electric speed nearly every race this year — but this time Elliott has the early edge, starting from the pole.

BEST: Kevin Harvick

Average finish at Kansas: 9.6 (best among remaining playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: 4th (wins in 2018, 2016 and 2013)

Comment: Though he cooled off a bit in the Round of 12, expect Harvick to be back on pace with the front-runners at Kansas. He has led 864 laps here in his career and has three wins and 10 top 10s in the last 14 trips to the track. Points are now at a premium, and Harvick has only missed out on stage points twice at Kansas. As the race for a Championship 4 berth heats up, expect Harvick to as well.

WORST: Joey Logano

Average finish at Kansas: 18.2 (seventh among remaining playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: 35th (wins in 2015 and 2014)

Comment: Logano has recently struggled the most at Kansas among remaining contenders, with a trio of consecutive finishes outside the top 15 — including a DNF in the spring race that ups his career total to four at the track. While he has two career wins here, the last one came half a decade ago in 2015. Entering below the top-four cutline already, Logano can ill afford to have another disastrous outcome.

WORST: Brad Keselowski

Average finish at Kansas: 12.0 (third among remaining playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: Runner-up (wins in 2019 and 2011)

Comment: The No. 2 Team Penske wheelman has been a steady front-runner at Kansas for years, though his recent playoff performances have left him on a cold streak — featuring a 13th place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a pair of 18th-place results at Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Keselowski has shown he can win at any track on any given week, but with a number of contenders heating up, his slim points cushion is starting to dwindle.

WORST: Alex Bowman

Average finish at Kansas: 19.6 (last among remaining eight playoff drivers)

Most recent finish at Kansas: 8th

Comment: Bowman has had good runs at Kansas, but he has yet to show the weekly winning speed the other playoff drivers have presented. Still, he reeled in a top 10 and led laps in three of the last four at the Kansas City track. His consistency allowed him to point his way into the Round of 8, but the talented Hendrick Motorsports driver still has a lot of ground to make up.