NASCAR Power Rankings: Round of 8 set after Roval eliminations

The elimination race at the Roval has given us the Round of 8. Our NASCAR Power Rankings have taken a turn as well. Playoff drivers will be fighting for every position from here to Phoenix. The margins are thinner than they have ever been.
Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville stand between these drivers and Phoenix. The Championship 4 will be decided by who wins these next three races and who positions themselves the best on points.
The Roval exposed a few issues with the Playoffs. Let’s get into the NASCAR Power Rankings before heading to Las Vegas.
1. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)
Joe Gibbs Racing picked a good one in Chase Briscoe. Two wins this season and he just had his worst finish of the NASCAR Playoffs at the Roval, P14.
Briscoe is having his best races right now, right when he needs to. But he is 7th going into Las Vegas and has work to do to make it to Phoenix.
2. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+3)
With another points reset this round, I have Ryan Blaney moving up in the NASCAR Power Rankings. He is great at Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville. This is the round he shows his championship pedigree.
Blaney has been great all season long. Three wins this season so far, how many more can he get before the checkered flag waves in Phoenix?
3. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

The win at Kansas put Chase Elliott into the Round of 8. Now, he’s ready to get another intermediate track win at Vegas.
Elliott has been consistent and quiet most of the year. Is it time for him to make some noise? Four top-10s in the last five races for Elliott.
4. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)
Denny Hamlin is moving down slightly in the NASCAR Power Rankings. No big deal, though. He is the top driver in points going into the Round of 8.
Hamlin was great at Kansas. We know how good he is at the intermediate tracks. If he can win his way into Phoenix early, it might be Hamlin’s championship to lose.
5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)
Five straight top-10s for Christopher Bell. These top drivers are making it hard to pick a favorite for this championship.
Bell won at Bristol and has been fantastic in the last two rounds of the NASCAR Playoffs. He is well-positioned to make Phoenix.
6. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (+2)

Don’t look now, but Kyle Larson is gaining steam. He is moving up in the NASCAR Power Rankings because his last few races have been great.
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The runner-up at the Roval showed that he still has his fastball. SVG just happened to be in the way, and by in the way, I mean 15 seconds out front.
7. Joey Logano – Team Penske (-1)
Don’t look now, but Joey Logano is still in the NASCAR Playoffs. Logano is now a major threat to win at Vegas and advance to Phoenix yet again.
Team Penske has the 22 team ready to go once again. Can Logano and Paul Wolfe sneak into the championship yet again? Would that be the death of the NASCAR Playoffs as we know it?
8. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)
I am not sure what to think about William Byron. He has been good, but not championship good. It feels like he could flame out in this round if he doesn’t step up his game.
Byron slightly moves down in the NASCAR Power Rankings because I don’t know if he can get a win this round, and I’m not sure if the 24 team is meant to make Phoenix this year.
9. Shane van Gisbergen – Trackhouse Racing (-)

Five wins on the season, I have to include Shane van Gisbergen in the NASCAR Power Rankings this week. He even had a top-10 at Kansas right before it!
SVG could be developing into an all-around driver. If that happens, he becomes a legitimate championship threat for the foreseeable future.
10. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-)
A strong effort, but not enough to advance. P10, the pole, and the fastest lap. That didn’t give Tyler Reddick what he needed to make the Round of 8.
23XI Racing didn’t get either driver to the semi-final round. Now, it’s about finishing the next month out strong.