Chase Elliott again has a chance to take the next step in his young but quite celebrated career. He’s back in the round of eight for a fourth consecutive year, once again trying to drive through to his first championship finale.
Kyle Busch is out of the way, eliminated Sunday after Elliott won on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch won’t race in the final four for the first time since 2014, and there will be a new Cup champion this year.
Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin, winners of a combined 16 of the 32 races so far this season, are heavily favored to advance to the Nov.