NASCAR Playoffs: The 'Eckel 3' pick Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson plus two on the cut line at the BofA ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Bank of America ROVAL 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 2:30 p.m.
Martin Truex Jr. is looking to add his name to the NASCAR history books, while four other drivers are looking to stay alive in the playoffs.
All eyes are on Charlotte, Sunday, when the final race of the first round of the playoffs take place at ROVAL (a combination of road course and oval).
Truex, the New Jersey native, won the first two playoff races in Las Vegas and Richmond and is looking for a sweep of the first round. That’s happened three previous times and all three drivers finished in the top three overall, with one taking the title.
Greg Biffle, 2008, won the first three races and finished third overall.
Tony Stewart, 2011, won the first three on the way to the title.
Matt Kenseth, 2013, won the first three and finished second to Jimmie Johnson on one of his seven titles.
While Truex, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have already qualified for the second round (final 12), four drivers will be eliminated Sunday.
Currently those would include Eric Jones (-45), Kurt Busch (-14), Clint Bowyer (-4) and Alex Bowman (-2).
William Byron (+2), Aric Almirola (+3) and Ryan Blaney (+8), who won last year in Charlotte, are currently 12th, 11th and 10th respectively.
Ryan Newman, who began as he 16th and final driver, is now in ninth place and has a good chance to advance.
Here is how the “Eckel Three’’ which as always includes Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker and Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney see Sunday’s race.
Chase Elliott (8-1): All of the “Three’’ like Elliott’s chances this week. He finished second a year ago here to Truex and did well in Saturday’s final practice. He could very well be in the mix again this year if not on victory lane.
Kyle Larson (8-1): “Left Turn’’ sang the praises of Larson, who led this race for 47 laps last year and is sitting in eighth place this year. With a decent showing he will advance to the round of 12. We expect more than decent, however.
Clint Bowyer (22-1): Bowyer is on Elimination Highway, sitting 14th currently, “Tobacco Road’’ thinks that motivation enough to see him finish with one of is best races of the season.
Ryan Blaney (20-1): That’s too good of value to pass up for the winner of last year’s race here. Blaney, currently sits 10th, so he needs a good race to stay above the fray.
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