Power Rankings: Can Larson Dominate the Roval Again and Steamroll Into the Round of 8?

The Kansas dust has settled, and what a weekend it turned out to be. Chase Elliott muscled his way past Denny Hamlin in the final moments at Kansas Speedway, claiming his second victory of 2025 and punching his ticket straight into the Round of 8. But here’s what’s got every NASCAR fan’s attention. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, might be the one carrying the real momentum heading into Charlotte’s treacherous Roval this Sunday.

You could feel the tension building all weekend long at Kansas. Elliott’s victory wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The way he handled that final lap showed me exactly why this No. 9 team belongs in championship conversations. They’ve found something special in recent weeks, and Elliott looked downright comfortable behind the wheel when it mattered most.

The Hendrick Steamroller Keeps Rolling

Let’s consider NASCAR’s track record of momentum for a moment. When a team gets hot, they can ride that wave straight to Homestead. Elliott’s victory at Kansas wasn’t lucky. It was earned through grit and determination. Twenty-four laps led doesn’t tell the whole story. This team showed up when it counted, and that’s championship-caliber execution right there.

But don’t sleep on Larson. Sure, he only led one lap at Kansas, which had to sting after being the heavy favorite. That’s not the Kyle Larson we’ve come to expect. However, his perspective tells an entirely different story. Sitting 54 points above the cutline, he’s practically guaranteed a spot in the Round of 8. More importantly, he’s the defending Roval winner, and defending winners at tricky tracks like Charlotte don’t just forget how to get it done.

Denny Hamlin’s Championship Window

Hamlin dominated Kansas for most of the afternoon, leading the most laps and looking absolutely unstoppable. Watching him work that No. 11 Toyota around Kansas was poetry in motion. But racing isn’t about leading the most laps. It’s about leading the last one. That final sequence hurt, no doubt about it, but Hamlin’s sitting pretty with a 48-point cushion above the elimination line.

This veteran knows exactly what he’s doing. At 44 years old, Hamlin’s driving with the wisdom that comes from years of playoff battles. His experience becomes invaluable when teams start feeling the pressure at tracks like the Roval, where one mistake can end your championship hopes in a heartbeat.

The Penske Puzzle

Team Penske walked away from Kansas with their heads hanging low, and rightfully so. Three cars finishing outside the top 20 in a playoff race? That’s not positioning, and the way he attacks the Roger Penske standard we’ve come to expect. Ryan Blaney’s already locked into the Round of 8, which takes some pressure off, but Joey Logano’s teetering on the edge, and Austin Cindric desperately needs a miracle.

Logano’s situation fascinates me. His crew chief, Paul Wolfe, admitted they didn’t feel good about Kansas heading into the weekend, and those concerns proved prophetic. But here’s the thing about Logano: he’s clutch when his back’s against the wall. His 8.6 average finish at the Roval shows he knows how to navigate Charlotte’s road course configuration.

Christopher Bell’s Quiet Surge

Don’t let Bell’s drop in these power rankings fool you. His third-place finish at Kansas was impressive, leading his second-most laps in any race since his Phoenix victory back in March. The 2022 Roval winner is heating up at exactly the right time. When drivers get hot in the playoffs, especially at tracks where they’ve won before, that’s when magic happens.

Bell’s driving with confidence right now. You can see it in his aggressive moves, his positioning, and the way he’s attacking restarts. That Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 team has found something in their setup, and the Roval might be the perfect place for Bell to showcase what they’ve discovered.

The Elimination Drama Unfolds

Tyler Reddick finds himself in the most precarious position of any playoff driver. As the only remaining winless playoff contender, he’s feeling the heat. His seventh-place finish at Kansas wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the breakthrough performance he desperately needed. The Roval presents both opportunity and danger for Reddick, as his road course skills are legitimate, evidenced by his 7.8 average finish there; however, the pressure is mounting.

Bubba Wallace’s situation breaks my heart a little. The fight he showed at Kansas, gaining just one point after giving everything he had, demonstrates the razor-thin margins in playoff racing. Wallace has elevated his game tremendously this season, and even if his championship run ends at Charlotte, he’s proven he belongs in these conversations.

Roval Predictions and Final Thoughts

The Charlotte Roval separates pretenders from contenders. It’s a track that demands precision, patience, and just the right amount of aggression to make moves when opportunities present themselves. Larson enters as the defending winner, and the odds suggest he will be extra motivated following his Kansas disappointment.

Elliott’s riding high on confidence, Hamlin’s got the points cushion to race smart, and Bell’s showing speed at exactly the right moment. Meanwhile, drivers like Cindric and Reddick are facing must-win scenarios that could produce desperate, spectacular racing.

Final Thoughts

This Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 promises to be a fireworks display. The combination of playoff pressure, elimination scenarios, and Charlotte’s unique challenges creates the perfect recipe for drama. Some drivers will advance to the Round of 8 feeling confident, while others will head home wondering what might have been.