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Power Rankings: Round of 8 opens with a bang, Texas on tap
By Pat DeCola | Published: October 29, 2019 9
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
8. Chase Elliott (-3):
Comment: Obviously, Martinsville was a nightmare for the No. 9 team and Chase Elliott, who finished 36th. Now in must-win mode, Elliott should have a shot this weekend. His 13th-place finish in the spring was his worst showing in any series at the Fort Worth track, having won in the Xfinity Series in 2014 and his first six Cup starts netting finishes of 11th or better.
Comment: Obviously, Martinsville was a nightmare for the No. 9 team and Chase Elliott, who finished 36th. Now in must-win mode, Elliott should have a shot this weekend. His 13th-place finish in the spring was his worst showing in any series at the Fort Worth track, having won in the Xfinity Series in 2014 and his first six Cup starts netting finishes of 11th or better.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
7. Kyle Larson (--):
Comment: Larson made it out of Martinsville with a top 10 -- basically a win for him, given his Paperclip history -- but still has lots of work to do at Texas and ISM. A finish of fifth in this race last year and a runner-up in spring 2017 are nice, though those are more the exceptions to the rule of his Texas history.
Comment: Larson made it out of Martinsville with a top 10 -- basically a win for him, given his Paperclip history -- but still has lots of work to do at Texas and ISM. A finish of fifth in this race last year and a runner-up in spring 2017 are nice, though those are more the exceptions to the rule of his Texas history.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
6. Kyle Busch (-3):
Comment: "Rowdy" needs a rebound, rapidly. Martinsville very much did not go as planned for Busch, who placed 14th amid an already rollercoaster playoffs. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver does have a win at Texas since the repave ('18 spring), but he enjoyed far more success at Texas before that. He's a true wild card this weekend.
Comment: "Rowdy" needs a rebound, rapidly. Martinsville very much did not go as planned for Busch, who placed 14th amid an already rollercoaster playoffs. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver does have a win at Texas since the repave ('18 spring), but he enjoyed far more success at Texas before that. He's a true wild card this weekend.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
5. Ryan Blaney (+3):
Comment: Ryan Blaney, Championship 4 driver? The book certainly is not closed on that, as the Team Penske driver rolled off a strong fifth-place run at Martinsville. If he can replicate his runner-up from the pole in this race last year, that dream will be even closer to a reality.
Comment: Ryan Blaney, Championship 4 driver? The book certainly is not closed on that, as the Team Penske driver rolled off a strong fifth-place run at Martinsville. If he can replicate his runner-up from the pole in this race last year, that dream will be even closer to a reality.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
4. Kevin Harvick (--):
Comment: There's a strong chance No. 4 will be in the Championship 4 following Sunday, as Harvick has been lights out at Texas since the repave. Two wins, four top-five finishes and an eighth-placer since make him the favorite for Sunday, especially with fellow 1.5-mile master Martin Truex Jr. having his sights already set to Miami.
Comment: There's a strong chance No. 4 will be in the Championship 4 following Sunday, as Harvick has been lights out at Texas since the repave. Two wins, four top-five finishes and an eighth-placer since make him the favorite for Sunday, especially with fellow 1.5-mile master Martin Truex Jr. having his sights already set to Miami.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
3. Joey Logano (+3):
Comment: Another Martinsville, another ... Martinsville for Mr. Logano. The Team Penske driver always has his nose in the action, and the front of the field. His one Texas win came in spring 2014, but the defending series champ has been excellent there lately with six straight top-seven finishes before a 17th-place result in the spring.
Comment: Another Martinsville, another ... Martinsville for Mr. Logano. The Team Penske driver always has his nose in the action, and the front of the field. His one Texas win came in spring 2014, but the defending series champ has been excellent there lately with six straight top-seven finishes before a 17th-place result in the spring.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
2. Denny Hamlin (--):
Comment: It's hard to picture the Championship 4 at this point without Hamlin (or Logano, for that matter) and his Texas history only bolsters that notion. The JGR driver was victorious in the Lone Star State in the spring, his third career Texas win.
Comment: It's hard to picture the Championship 4 at this point without Hamlin (or Logano, for that matter) and his Texas history only bolsters that notion. The JGR driver was victorious in the Lone Star State in the spring, his third career Texas win.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
1. Martin Truex Jr. (--):
Comment: Any questions? Truex Jr. finally broke through at Martinsville, but he's a threat to win every weekend right now regardless of the track. The current title favorite has yet to win at Texas, but is just two years removed from a runner-up in this race. And, really, would you be surprised if he won two in a row?
Comment: Any questions? Truex Jr. finally broke through at Martinsville, but he's a threat to win every weekend right now regardless of the track. The current title favorite has yet to win at Texas, but is just two years removed from a runner-up in this race. And, really, would you be surprised if he won two in a row?
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the eight remaining NASCAR Playoffs drivers after the race at Martinsville Speedway and ahead of the race at Texas Motor Speedway.