The name of the game is Crazy Eights, and NASCAR.com's Alex Weaver tells you where the cards lie as the next round of the playoffs kicks off.
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00:00 It's time to roll the dice and take a gamble for the opening race in the round of eight.
00:06 I'm Alex Weaver here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and we're kicking off the final round before
00:11 we know the four drivers who will go on to race for a championship in Phoenix.
00:16 The driver that sits atop the standings right now with the playoff points is William Byron.
00:21 He's our latest winner here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
00:24 He knows that this week he needs to cash in and go back to back on wins and make it to
00:29 victory lane.
00:30 I think the blueprint is there for success but the thing I always caution is things change
00:36 and evolve and teams and drivers improve.
00:41 So we have to kind of take that next step at all these racetracks coming up but we kind
00:46 of know what balance is achievable and what we want to have in our car.
00:52 Getting there is definitely a different challenge so I don't maybe look at it that much but
00:57 it is nice to know that and have that comfort that I know how to get around these tracks.
01:02 William Byron has a win at all three of the racetracks in the round of eight.
01:07 So does Denny Hamlin.
01:08 He enters today's race knowing that this is the time for a championship run for the 11
01:13 crew.
01:14 The Toyotas have stacked the field with half of the playoff eight now fighting for a championship.
01:20 You got to be really precise in the moves you make and certainly the risk that you take.
01:27 I think we had three finishes in the top seven last year.
01:30 We didn't make it.
01:31 There was a lot of different factors in that.
01:33 We didn't have as many playoff points last year as well.
01:35 So I think that kind of repeat performance probably would get you in but who knows.
01:42 We don't know.
01:43 We're just so week to week and you really can't think about the end result.
01:46 You just have to think about the next shot and that's this weekend.
01:50 Hendrick Motorsports had issues in practice and qualifying but for the five of Kyle Larson
01:54 he showed speed here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
01:57 He's one of three drivers to have won the opening race in the round of eight and gone
02:01 on to win the championship.
02:03 He knows how crucial this race at Las Vegas is.
02:06 Yeah I mean in 2021 we were really strong everywhere but it was just nice for like your
02:12 head winning that first race.
02:14 You know not having to deal with the added stress of the next couple weeks.
02:18 Really the stress comes from just trying not to get in the way or mess things up.
02:22 You know those other weeks Joey kind of talked about that a lot last year.
02:26 After winning here was just the goal of not pissing anybody off between then and Phoenix.
02:31 So would love to win this opening race but if not I just want to have a good race to
02:39 keep gaining points and get further away from that cut line.
02:43 Starting next to Kyle Larson on the front row is your bushlight pole sitter for today's
02:46 race Christopher Bell.
02:48 Who's no stranger to leading the field to green this season.
02:52 You know I say that I'm not the favorite but I know that if we do our jobs, if we do what
02:56 we're capable of then there's no reason why the 20 car can't be a champion and certainly
03:01 win tomorrow and win at Phoenix and win at Miami and Martinsville too.
03:05 So we have everything that we need to go out there and do it and it's a matter of putting
03:10 it together.
03:11 Yes I do think that we are capable of winning tomorrow and I think that we're capable of
03:14 winning every race between now and Phoenix.
03:18 For one of our eight playoff drivers it's a chance to hit the jackpot and end up in
03:22 victory lane.
03:23 Make sure and tune in to the opening race for the round of eight, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
03:27 for the NASCAR Cup Series, 2.30pm Eastern on NBC.
03:30 (upbeat music)
03:33 (thudding)