NASCAR playoffs scouting report: The garage breaks down the Round of 8

While the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs should in theory feature the eight best drivers and teams from the season, that isn’t always the case. And though I think they’ll be fine, we haven’t really seen these guys pushed like that.” … “From a pressure standpoint, it’s uncharted territory.” Martin Truex Jr. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Crew chief: James Small Wins: Three Points to the cutline: Plus-15 Strengths “They are always so good at these three tracks, which should help them right the ship.” … “They can’t keep running like they have, eventually they have to turn things around and be the team that won the regular season championship. He seems to think things out well, not a shoot-from-the hip kind of guy.” … “Chris is the kind of crew chief I would like to have.” Weaknesses “Speeding penalties can get him.” … “Some people will say maybe he’s choked in the past, and while I don’t think that’s true, I mean, he has made mistakes at critical times and that’s the only thing I think is a pitfall, potentially.” … “As good as they are, they still tend to make that one killer mistake at the worst time.” … “Phoenix is his Achilles heel. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Crew chief: Cliff Daniels Wins: Three Points to the cutline: Plus-3 Strengths “Super fast, and seems to be able to be fast everywhere.” … “They’re pretty much tit-for-tat with the 24 team with speed everywhere we go.” … “When it’s time to dig deep, it seems like that team can always get it done.” … “Their pit crew is fast and they don’t make a lot of mistakes. You know he’ll be getting full support these next three weeks.” … “If he can make it out of this round and to the final four, Phoenix is one of his best tracks and he has a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing.” … “If Blaney doesn’t have a Blaney moment where he loses his mind on the radio, he’ll be fine and he will probably be the only one that can beat the 24 at Phoenix.” … “I think how they won the Coke 600 this year should prove every and any self-doubt wrong.” Weaknesses “That Talladega win kind of came out of nowhere as that was their only top-five finish since winning at Charlotte.