Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for tracking phase in a receiver which uses multiple phase tracking techniques. A phase tracking module generates a plurality of symbol decisions related to received 8-level-vestigial-sideband (“8VSB”) signals, determines a phase tracking threshold value based on a mean square error, receives an estimated imaginary component of a transmitted signal based on the symbol decisions, and determines a phase estimate based on the imaginary component of the transmitted signal and the plurality of symbol decisions. The phase tracking module selects one of a first phase tracking technique and a second phase tracking technique based on the phase estimate. The first phase tracking technique is selected when the phase estimate is greater than the phase tracking threshold value, and the second phase tracking technique is selected when the phase estimate is less than the phase tracking threshold value.