NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can be the Master of the Charlotte Roval?
NASCAR’s least conventional racetrack is gearing up for its eighth-straight Playoff showing. The ultra-technical and chaos-laden Charlotte Roval lies ahead as the Round of 12 cut race, with 10 drivers gunning for six open spots. The Roval’s 17 turn layout has led to many memorable moments over its short history, and may drastically impact this year’s title hunt. Here are a few contenders who hope to be King of the Road after Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, as many drivers have varying agendas ahead.
Shane van Gisbergen
Three guarantees of life in 2025 are death, taxes, and Shane van Gisbergen dominating road courses. The New Zealander has four-straight wins on the road entering the Roval, and looks to check another track off his winless list. Although no longer being Playoff eligible, SVG is still the overwhelming favorite coming into this weekend. Already the winningest rookie season in NASCAR history, van Gisbergen eyes a fifth checkered flag in Charlotte.
“I’m excited,” van Gisbergen said. “I always enjoy turning right. It’s a track I’ve been to before, and I did decent there last year in both Cup and Xfinity. It’s definitely a little different than your average road course, but it’s a lot of fun. Hopefully it will be a great weekend!”
Sonoma in June saw SVG become the only man since Jeff Gordon to win three-straight road races from the pole. Should SVG also be victorious at the Roval, he would be one shy of Gordon’s six-consecutive road course win record. There’s little doubt that SVG will be the man to beat Sunday. Across both Xfinity and Cup races here with Kaulig Racing last year, driver 88 was third and seventh. Now far more acclimated in a full-time Trackhouse entry, SVG eyes another masterclass afternoon. An unforced mechanical woe may be the field’s only hope at stopping van Gisbergen from another rugby ball kick as Roval winner.
Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Tyler Reddick
All but needing a breakthrough Roval win, Tyler Reddick has been painfully close to the elusive Charlotte checkers. 23XI Racing’s standout road racer boasts three top-10s in five Roval starts, and was 11th in a points-chasing effort last year. Reddick is no stranger to rallying at the Roval to erase points deficits and remain alive in the championship hunt. Still searching for his first victory this season, Reddick is optimistic for another strong Sunday on the road.
“It’s a fair point,” Reddick said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a reason why I say we have to run top-five and score a lot of points because of Shane. He just adds to it, AJ (Allmendinger) adds to it as well. He’s going to be doing the same thing, they are both really good road course racers. That’s just part of it, if we are in that spot where we have to win so be it. We will do what we can to go out there and be the better driver.”
“I’m almost positive the last two season we’ve gone into the Roval below the cutline. You never want to go into that race in that position, but you don’t want to go into that race in a tricky spot. My gut would say even if we are outside by ten points, it’s doable. Sitting where we are minus [29] points outside, that’s a pretty hard number to overcome. That’s counting on others not getting stage points. We’ve been able to overcome a deficit twice over the last few years. That does give me confidence.”
Confidence in regaining lost points aside, Reddick almost faces must-win mode for this elimination race. The No. 45 enters the Roval 29 points outside of a Round of 8 transfer, likely needing to maximize stage points if not chase the checkered flag too. Reddick’s road course prowess is nothing to overlook with three wins, but he has an uphill battle ahead especially against SVG.
Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Pinnacle Toyota Camry on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Joey Logano
When talking about Team Penske and the Roval, many would be quick to discount Joey Logano. Across seven prior starts here though, the 22’s seen six top-10s. This is a series-high mark, with Logano’s best result being runner-up in 2020. If anyone is seemingly due for a breakout Roval victory, it’s the reigning Cup champion. Logano was asked his thoughts on possibly oving this fall Charlotte date back to the traditional oval layout.
“If you’re asking me would I rather run a road course or an oval, I would pick an oval,” Logano said. “It’s a road course. There are lefts and rights and there happens to be banking on two of the turns. Personally, I’m too close to the fire to answer that. It’s kind of what fans think is best is probably gonna be what we do anyways.”
“Depending on how the cautions fall more than likely you’re probably gonna have to pick one or the other [stage points of the win], so it’s what are you trying to accomplish?”
Logano’s championship run from a season ago was made possible thanks to fallout from the Roval. Alex Bowman’s post-race disqualification and Round of 8 removal breathed new life into the 22 team. This shot in the arm propelled the Penske crew to their third Cup. Logano was a quietly consistent eighth in that race, and looks to work some Roval magic again. Even though it’s an odd year, Logano can easily protect his 13-point cushion and make the semifinal Playoff round again.
Joey Logano’s No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Larson
Last year’s Roval winner, Kyle Larson took command in Stage 3 and never looked back. This marked the Hendrick 5 team’s second victory at their backyard road course, a track that has snakebitten Larson’s title chances before. The 5 was the class of the field here in 2024, and looks to back up their win with another strong outing. Coming on the heels of a nonchalant sixth-place day at Kansas, Larson eyes a return to victory lane.
“We won at the [Charlotte Roval] last year, which was a proud moment for our team,” Larson said. “Especially since we hadn’t run that well there in the Next Gen era. We’ve had some stressful moments at that track in the past. But heading into this weekend, given where we stand above the cutline, we’re hoping it’ll be less stressful. Hopefully, we can be as strong as we were last year and have a solid race.”
Larson is the poster child for high highs and low lows at the Roval. Unforced errors here from the 5 team have derailed championship bids. Amazingly, Larson’s pair of Roval wins are his only results here better than 13th. A ho-hum Playoffs to date for the 2021 champion has only seen two top-10s. Happening in each of the last two weeks though, one could argue that Larson is trending back towards the front. If the contending 5 team shows up Sunday, they will be in the mix for the victory.
Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.Com Chevrolet on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Christopher Bell
The Roval’s maiden Next Gen winner, Christopher Bell came in clutch under must-win conditions in 2022. This marked one of three top-10s for the 20 across five Roval starts, including a runner-up result last year. The unique Charlotte layout has quietly become one of Bell’s best road courses. Following Toyota domination in Kansas, Bell has high confidence ahead.
Bell finds himself among the best positions of those not locked into the Round of 8, 44 points clear of the cut. With this in mind, Bell can take an all but care-free attitude into the Roval chasing max points and a victory. The 20 team has seen four-straight Playoff top-10s including their Bristol win. Expect the good times to roll on for Bell and this Joe Gibbs Racing team.
Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chase Elliott
Two-time Roval winner and perennial favorite Chase Elliott enters this weekend worry-free after his clutch Kansas win. The seven-time Cup road course winner is still 0-21 though in a Next Gen circuit triumph. Now locked into the Round of 8, Elliott can throw caution to the wind this weekend. The 2020 champion can do everything in his power to put the 9 back in familiar victory lane.
“My mind is really all about (the) Charlotte (ROVAL) right now because five more points would be a really big deal for us starting the next round,” Elliott said. “We will be in a position where you’re going to have to fight for wins over the next round too. So, I think it’s a great opportunity to race this weekend like we’re going to have to race the next three weeks following that. [We need to] get our team in a position where that’s the norm because if you want to get to Phoenix, that’s got to be the mindset there anyway. So you might as well embrace it and enjoy it.”
“I think we run the race to try and win it for sure. Flip stages and points doesn’t matter at this juncture. For us — I mean, if we’re competitive. If we’re not competitive and we can get a stage point, a stage win and get the bonus point that way, then of course. But assuming you have pace is kind of how I was answering those questions. If we’re slow, then that don’t matter anyway. We’ve got to go be fast, and if we’re fast, at least we can run our strategy how we would typically do it to have a shot to win.”
Can a late season surge be brewing for the Hendrick 9 team? The Roval absolutely allows Elliott another prime opportunity at snatching valuable Playoff points. This comes after admittedly getting some last-lap luck a week ago. Elliott will need every bit of help to seed himself as high as possible in the next round. Do not be surprised to see the 9 pick up a bonus point or two this weekend.
Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet on the grid at Darlington Raceway before the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, August 31. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
12 months ago, the Charlotte Roval left an indelible Playoff impact, ultimately setting a championship path in motion. Can the same drama unfold over Sunday’s 109 laps? The Bank of America Roval 400 goes green at 3 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Deposits and withdrawals will be made by every Playoff driver finding a way forward through the pack. When the closing laps hit, a knockdown slugfest may possibly be brewing for this win.
Written by Peter Stratta
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