Lugnuts and Horsepower

Talladega eliminated another four drivers, but Martinsville started the actual Eliminator Round.  The Chase is over halfway done, and only eight drivers remain in the hunt for a championship.  Patti Rodisch and Dustin Parks are ready to look back at the end of one round, and the beginning of another.

The end of the Contender Round saw Hendrick Motorsports end up losing the most.  After getting all four drivers in the Chase, only one remains.  With Hendrick only having one driver able to go for the title, compared to Gibbs with two and Penske with two, are Gordon's chances slim, or is it motivation.  Plus, Brad Keselowski overcame adversity to make it into the Eliminator Eight, only to see unfortunate troubles this past Sunday.  Keselowski isn't out of the hunt, but battling back now is more difficult now that only two races remain before the title round.

With all the Chase talk, Hendrick did have the bright spot on Sunday when Dale Earnhardt Jr. locked in his fourth win of the year, the most in one season since 2004.  It was a win possibly meaning more than his second Daytona 500, and made a weekend where heartache was replaced by rejoice and victory.

This and so much more will be discussed beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.