Is NASCAR’s best ready for this weekend’s Charlotte Roval race? There are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. The playoff battle, the bubble is as hard as it has ever been. The Roval marks the final race of the round of 12. Non-playoff drivers have been the story in 2024. William Byron is the only driver of the 12 still in the running for the Championship who can breathe this weekend.
Byron locked himself into the round of 8 on points, with two non-playoff winners in the first two races of the round. That is the theme this season, non-playoff winners winning in the playoffs. That has been the case for the last several seasons. Just look at the Roval race in 2023, who won AJ Allmendinger, someone who wasn’t a playoff driver.
That however isn’t the only storyline going into the weekend, as the Charlotte Roval has plenty of new looks and features. Did I mention there is a major configuration change? It seems time for a playoff driver to win a race, doesn’t it? That isn’t a given, this weekend with so many twists and turns.
Charlotte Roval Isn’t the Same, Can a Playoff Driver Win This Time?
Four drivers will be eliminated on Sunday, and the four that sit below the line right now are Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, and Chase Briscoe. All four of those drivers could have been above the line, if not for some unfortunate circumstances at Talladega last weekend.
REPOST if you'll be watching NASCAR from the Charlotte ROVAL!
SUNDAY | 2:30ET | NBC | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/InQDBoGz9F
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 7, 2024
Those just above the cutline like Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick have both been proven road-course-winning drivers. Still, they aren’t safe, especially with the major changes to the layout of the course. The start of a lap at the Roval may seem the same, but once the drivers get to turn five, things are dramatically different. Instead of turning right at five, the straightaway is extended into a new turn six, which features a major elevation change, which also will give drivers a blind point. That could make for some issues, especially with passing. It has also made turn seven, which was tricky enough, even more tight. If they stay on the driving line, the drivers will almost have to send someone else right into the wall.
A new challenge awaits. 😏#BofAROVAL | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/B6YZchHqAH
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) October 7, 2024
The last major change is the front stretch chicane, which will feature a much tighter turn 16. Expect some craziness much like the inaugural Roval was, when everyone was plowing into the turn-one wall. According to motorsport.com’s Nick DeGroot drivers have some concerns about the changes to the track including Trackhouse’s Daniel Suarez.
” This Roval race is going to be different for sure,” Suarez who is below the cutline entering the race said. ” I think the changes to the track will create passing zones. Right now, our work is in the virtual world. We are doing this on a simulator. Nobody has been running laps in real life. So we are going to find out what these changes mean on Saturday.”
Kyle Larson a former winner at the Roval in 2021, doesn’t see passing coming easy. He’s more along the lines of an equal opportunity for passing and wrecking. It’s too early to tell, but playoff drivers have their hands full this weekend.
Who Has the Best Chance Of Winning?
Sure, Larson, Elliott, Reddick maybe even Byron are probably favorites this weekend. However, there are plenty of non-playoff drivers who could easily drive to victory lane on Sunday. Last year’s winner Allmendinger is in the field this weekend. Shane van Gisbergen is also amongst the field of drivers for Sunday. We all know what he can do at the road courses. The whole new layout makes this race a wait-and-see.
My gut says, one of the playoff ace road racers can get the job done. Still, my mind says, a non-playoff driver will be the one celebrating on Sunday afternoon. I hope I’m wrong, it’s far time someone in the playoffs flexes their muscle.
