AJ Allmendinger stood out during NASCAR Cup Series practice at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Saturday, placing AJ Allmendinger NASCAR practice in the spotlight before the main event. Leading the field with a swift lap of 86.630 seconds, Allmendinger, well-known for his road course abilities, made a notable impact as contenders prepared for the upcoming race weekend.
Allmendinger Sets the Pace in Practice
The 2023 Roval event winner established the benchmark for Saturday’s session, continuing his strong form on the 2.28-mile road course. After Allmendinger, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, and Zane Smith made up the rest of the top five on the timesheet. Drivers such as Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson—last year’s Roval winner—Justin Haley, Christopher Bell, and Noah Gragson completed the top ten, demonstrating the fierce level of competition heading into Sunday’s race.
Other notable performances included Ross Chastain placing 16th, Shane van Gisbergen finishing 17th, and William Byron landing in 20th. Several other major names, such as Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric, found themselves further down the practice standings, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the Roval circuit. The session highlighted how even high-profile drivers like William Byron and Bubba Wallace can face challenges putting together a fast lap at this venue.
Tire Strategy Emerges as Key Factor
During practice, tire wear became a major topic among teams, as drivers experienced as much as four seconds per lap of tire fall-off over the course of a run. This significant drop-off brought additional pressure on drivers and crew chiefs, raising questions about how teams would approach tire management and pit strategy for the race. The session’s demanding nature on tires increased the tension and anticipation for the upcoming qualifying rounds and the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
What’s Next in the NASCAR Weekend
Following practice, NASCAR Cup Series qualifying is scheduled to air on truTV. The Bank of America ROVAL 400 takes the green flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway shortly after 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, with live coverage through USA Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Pre-race broadcasts begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and 2 p.m. ET on PRN. Kyle Larson enters as the defending winner at the Roval, heightening anticipation for whether he or someone like AJ Allmendinger can claim victory in the challenging event.
“The Dinger is up top.@AJDinger was the fastest overall in practice at @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL. pic.twitter.com/OrH2d1oAf3”
—NASCAR (@NASCAR)
This result signals that Allmendinger and his team are well-prepared for race day on Sunday, as all eyes in the NASCAR community, including organizations like Yardbarker and the National Motorsports Press Association, will be fixed on the performances at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.
The Dinger is up top.@AJDinger was the fastest overall in practice at @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL. pic.twitter.com/OrH2d1oAf3
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 4, 2025
