Charlotte Roval has always been somewhat of a wildcard on the NASCAR calendar. The modifications made on the 2.28-mile track have added a layer of unpredictability and chaos that already existed on the hybrid course. To improve the quality of races, Speedway Motorsports has changed the layout, adding sharper turns to create more passing opportunities. With the stakes being high and a spot in the Round of 8 on the line, will the race give NASCAR the desired outcome?

After the chaos and crashes at Talladega Superspeedway, will fans want more of the same at the Roval? While several drivers have expressed their apprehension at the track’s new look, it’s the fans who will ultimately decide with their pockets, which will determine the track’s fate for the coming years.

NASCAR is playing a risky game at the Charlotte Roval

Back in 2018, three races were taking place at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Fall race. Frustrated by the decline in racing quality at intermediate tracks without the Next-Gen car, Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith took action and transformed the last race into an exhilarating road course challenge. The Generation 6 car performed incredibly well on the newly built hybrid track, with Ryan Blaney securing a thrilling finish at the 2018 Bank of America Roval 400. The trend continued the following year, with Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott securing a victory despite hitting the wall on the final restart.

However, after the introduction of the Next-Gen car, the quality of racing at the Charlotte Roval has been impacted significantly. Expressing his views about how the modifications at the track could affect the drivers and fans, NASCAR YouTuber Eric Estepp said, “This was a very strategic move by SMI. They’ve lobbed the ball over the plate and they’re hoping the drivers take huge swings. They want to see contact, crashes. They believe that’s what the fans want to see and I think fans will have to decide. They’ll decide by voting with their eyeballs and with their money, their bu–s, and seats.”

In many ways, the robustness of the Next-Gen car has made racing at the Roval a lot more complicated. The hybrid track has seen an increase in wrecks since the introduction of the new vehicle, with Kyle Larson being eliminated from the playoffs in 2022 after his No. 5 Chevy slammed into the wall and broke its right rear toe link. The Hendrick Motorsports driver also crashed during practice in 2023 and was forced to settle for a 13th-place result. According to NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports, changing the track’s layout, particularly the hairpin corner on Turn 7, will bring about overtaking opportunities. However, drivers are less than optimistic, believing that it will only add to the chaos and increase the chances of wrecks in the high-stakes race.

While the schedule for the 2025 season is already set, NASCAR could choose to reconsider switching back to its oval course at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 2026 onwards. The Next-Gen car performs well on intermediate tracks and if the sanctioning body wants to keep fans’ needs at the forefront, switching to the 1.5-mile oval could provide the best quality of racing. With Watkins Glen International being a road course in the playoffs, does NASCAR need another during the business end of the season?

Last year’s winner expecting chaos at the revamped Roval

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Few drivers know Charlotte Roval’s hybrid course better than A. J. Allmendinger. The Kaulig Racing driver secured his only victory in the Cup Series at the 2023 Bank of America Roval 400 and will be looking to defend his crown this season. The veteran has plenty of experience at road courses, but he believes that the modifications made to the 2.28-mile track could make the race more challenging this time around. With limited practice time to get used to the track’s new layout, drivers will be forced to rely on simulators, which could increase the likelihood of wrecks in the final Round of 12 race.

Sharing his expectations ahead of the elimination fixture, A. J. Allmendinger said, “It (Turn 5) will be a quicker corner now. It’s kind of a right kink but really makes it a little bit more challenging in the fact that if you carry too much speed in, you will definitely crash out. Late race, I’m gonna see some divebombs here (Turn 7).”

With no playoff-eligible driver winning the opening two Rounds of 12 races, title contenders will be fighting for the win at the 2024 Bank of America ROVAL 400. Four drivers will be eliminated after the race, and teams will desperately hope that a repeat of Talladega Superspeedway’s multi-car wreck isn’t on the cards this time around. Most fans want to see a clean and entertaining race with a thrilling ending, and if the Roval can provide that, the modifications made to the track will be considered a success.