NASCAR
Should the Roval Remain for Charlotte’s Playoff Race?
Leading up to and in the aftermath of the 2024 NASCAR schedule announcement, one large question has swirled around one race. Has the Charlotte Roval run its course? The traditional 1.5-mile oval was swapped for an infield road course/oval hybrid six years ago. The circuitous 2.28-mile, 17-turn behemoth of a layout has proven ultra-technical, drama-filled, and chaotic since this time. The Roval has seen a very short-but-memorable run in NASCAR’s top two divisions. That being said, is it time to change the Roval back to the oval?
“These cars have just been amazing at the intermediate tracks, especially Charlotte,” Christopher Bell said. “I would say that’s definitely in the top three best tracks that we’ve gone to with this Next Gen car.”
Bell’s sentiments are largely echoed throughout the garage and the fanbase alike. For each of the past two seasons, the Coca-Cola 600 on the Charlotte oval has been rightfully revived into deserved status and entertainment value as a crown jewel. The Memorial Day Classic has left many clamoring for more racing action on the traditional Charlotte layout. This trend has been seen with the Next Gen car at nearly every ‘cookie cutter’ intermediate track.
While the Next Gen car is amazing on these ovals, it does leave more to be desired on road courses. Drivers have spoken at length for nearly two years about how the Next Gen car does everything too well on road courses and short tracks. A bigger tire, larger brakes, and not enough horsepower all limit the potential of this car in giving the best racing product possible on road courses. Nowhere was this more evident than back-to-back races this summer on the Indianapolis Road Course and Watkins Glen. With Stage cautions removed, both races combined yielded only two cautions. Both winners had very dominant performances, leaving very little drama up front for the victory.
Bringing NASCAR to the Roval was the brainchild of Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith. This decision came amidst an era of lackluster 1.5-mile track racing in the Gen 6 car. It also introduced the first-ever road course into the postseason. The Roval debuted as 2018’s Round of 16 Playoff cut race with much doubt. That day of uncertainty delivered in every way imaginable right from the start. The race was not decided until the final corner; Jimmie Johnson slid out of control into Martin Truex Jr., allowing the seas to part for Ryan Blaney.
The next year’s date only added to the Roval’s popularity among fans. Chase Elliott had the dominant car, only to overcook turn one and drive head-first into the outside wall. Thanks to minimal damage however, the No. 9 Napa Chevrolet stormed back through the field to a commanding victory.
2020 saw Elliott claim Roval victory again, with 2021 seeing his teammate Kyle Larson take the Charlotte checkers. Year one of the Next Gen car saw Elliott in position to win again. It was Christopher Bell, however, capitalizing in a must-win scenario. This past weekend’s event saw AJ Allmendinger finally conquer Sunday’s Roval race, after four-straight years of Xfinity Saturday dominance.
The Roval was a much-welcomed change when it first arrived. What has caused the mood surrounding the Frankenstein racetrack to nearly flip 180-degrees in six years?
“For me with the Roval and the basic principle of it, I truly appreciate for our fans,” Chris Buescher said. “They can sit in the grandstands of Charlotte Motor Speedway and be able to see 98% of a road course track, that’s fantastic. You don’t get that at any other road course. In a lot of ways I think that’s great, there’s some things about other road courses that I think really drive people to certain areas. You have your people in the bus stop, campers down in a carousel, whatever it may be. For different reasons, I think the Roval did a very nice job at giving fans a great view of a course and not leaving you wondering what happened the previous lap, three-and-a-half miles back. I can love that about that particular road course.”
From drivers’ perspectives to the Roval’s mastermind, Marcus Smith recently gave his thoughts on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I love the Roval, and I love that it makes Charlotte Motor Speedway the most unique venue in motorsports. You can run a road course in a stadium-setting, and you can run the classic mile-and-a-half oval. For the Coke 600, fans can come from all over the world and see Charlotte Motor Speedway in its classic form, since 1960. Then in October you can come see the Bank of America Roval 400, and you get to see a completely new and different road course that is unlike anything else out there. I think that’s just awesome. We are committed to it and providing that opportunity for fans and everyone who wants to enjoy special events. I think it’s a really cool thing and that it’s so unique to Charlotte.”
Now knowing the 2024 Cup Series schedule, the Roval seemingly has little purpose left. Watkins Glen was shifted back from August to September, adding an unprecedented second road course race to the Playoffs. The absence that would be felt by eliminating the Roval is no longer there. Why not bring back the traditional Bank of America 500?
Fans and teams have both also begun to grow tiresome of the road course frenzy that popped up in recent years. The NASCAR Cup Series schedule ballooned from three road course dates in 2018 to seven in 2021. Now with the return of the Brickyard 400, 2024 will feature five road courses.
Is there still a case to be made for the Charlotte Roval? The Coke 600 has without a doubt put on the best show NASCAR offers in the Next Gen era. The Roval has also had highlight-reel moments in each season. I can see both sides of the oval vs. Roval debate, and personally can’t definitely decide either way. The Roval was a daring and bold gamble undertaken by SMI and NASCAR that has surely paid off. This talking point will pop up again next season but I am willing to see either option for Charlotte’s fall race as an absolute win.
Written by Peter Stratta
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