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NASCAR\u2019s Brad Moran tells NBC Sports: \u201cYou can say anything that helps your driver in their position and that\u2019s it.\u201d <\/p>\n
The winner of the opening race of the Round of 8 has won the championship in three of the last four years.<\/p>\n
Pre-race coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network. Here is what to watch for in today\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
Who excels and who falters as pressure rises?<\/p>\n
Before the playoffs began, Ryan Blaney explained what the 10-race run to the championship is like.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone thinks it\u2019s easy to get to Phoenix and you go win Phoenix,\u201d Blaney said of the site of the championship race. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to go through nine weeks of hell to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Daniel Suarez\u2019s mother suffered a broken collarbone in the auto accident Monday.<\/p>\n When asked about the stress of the playoffs back in August, Blaney said: \u201cI feel like what\u2019s really tough about it and can get to you is mistakes are blown up like crazy. You can\u2019t afford mistakes. \u2026 (because) if you do make a mistake and step over the line it has drastic ramifications.\u201d<\/p>\n Said William Byron ahead of the playoffs: \u201cI think the underlying theme of the playoffs is just you\u2019ve got to get to the Round of 8, and then you\u2019ve got to start peaking as that round goes. October is the most important time of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n Is this Christopher Bell\u2019s year?<\/p>\n Bell has finished second in each of the past two playoff races at Las Vegas but last year\u2019s race left him heartbroken and frustrated. Joey Logano beat Bell on fuel strategy to earn a spot in the championship race. Bell would fail to advance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n