NASCAR at Las Vegas 2022: Odds, Preview and Top Storylines

Only eight drivers remain in the field for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, as eight others were eliminated over the past six races. Now, there will be a three-week battle in the Round of 8, with only four drivers advancing to the championship race in Phoenix on Nov. 6.

The Round of 8 action begins Sunday, when the Cup Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the second time this year. If one of the eight playoff drivers is victorious, he'll automatically advance to the Championship 4.

The eight drivers still in the playoff field are: Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe. Defending champion Kyle Larson was among the four drivers eliminated after the Round of 12.

Here's everything else you need to know for Sunday's South Point 400 in Las Vegas.

Denny Hamlin: +550 (bet $100 to win $550)

Christopher Bell: +800

Chase Elliott: +800

Tyler Reddick: +900

Ross Chastain: +900

Kyle Larson: +900

William Byron: +1000

Ryan Blaney: +1000

Martin Truex Jr.: +1200

Kyle Busch: +1200

Joey Logano: +1500

Bubba Wallace: +1500

Kevin Harvick: +3000

Chase Briscoe: +3000

Daniel Suarez: +4000

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

There are plenty of fresh faces in the Round of 8. Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe are in the playoffs for the first time. This is only the second playoff appearance for Christopher Bell. Like Bell, William Byron had never previously been past the Round of 12.

But there are two former Cup Series champions in the mix: Chase Elliott and Joey Logano. And they're each looking to win the title for the second time.

Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champ, enters the Round of 8 with a sizable lead atop the standings. Because of the playoff points, he's accumulated throughout the year, the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet has a 20-point lead over Logano, who is in second.

Logano, who won the Cup Series championship in 2018, has a five-point advantage over Chastain in third.

Of the two former champs in the Round of 8 field, Logano has been more successful at Las Vegas. He's won two Cup Series races at the track (March 2019 and February 2020).

Logano's experience on this type of stage could be useful as he looks to drive his No. 22 Ford into the Championship 4.

"Anytime you’ve been through something before and you’re going back to it again, you’re always stronger and more comfortable in that situation," Logano said, per Zack Albert of NASCAR.com. "So I feel really good about where we’re at as a race team."

Although Elliott has never won at Las Vegas, he finished second in the playoff race at the track last September. The 26-year-old has also been the most dominant driver in the Cup Series this season, leading all drivers in wins (five), top fives (12) and top 10s (19). He also solidified his spot in the Round of 8 with a win at Talladega two weeks ago.

There's a good chance that Elliott and Logano could both end up in the Championship 4; it's quite possible one of them will clinch a spot by getting to Victory Lane this Sunday.

Denny Hamlin is the most experienced driver in this year's Round of 8. The 41-year-old has been a full-time Cup Series driver since 2006, having racked up 48 wins over that time.

However, Hamlin has still never won a Cup Series championship. So the driver of the No. 11 Toyota is looking to change that this year. He's currently in seventh in the standings, but he's only five points behind Bell, who is in the final transfer spot in fourth.

In 21 career Cup Series races at Las Vegas, Hamlin has only won once. But that victory came in last year's playoffs, when he won the first Round of 12 race to secure his spot in the Round of 8. Now, Hamlin will be looking to punch an even bigger ticket at the track this season, as a victory would send him to the Championship 4.

Hamlin has two wins this year, but he hasn't been to Victory Lane since the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte in May. But he's been consistent of late, finishing in the top five in five of the past 10 races. He's also ended up in the top 10 in five of the six playoff races thus far.

In recent years, Hamlin has come close to finally winning a title. He's been in the Championship 4 each of the previous three seasons, and he even finished third in last year's championship race in Phoenix. But Kyle Larson won that event to capture the championship.

Will Hamlin make it to the Championship 4 again this season? He's looking forward to racing at Las Vegas, Homestead-Miami and Martinsville in the Round of 8 and getting an opportunity to try to return to that stage.

"All of [the Round of 8 tracks] are just perfect for what our strength is, especially with the Toyotas and myself," Hamlin said, per Nate Ryan of NBC Sports. "I’m excited."

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