NASCAR drivers will face the demanding Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, commonly called the Roval, as it hosts its eighth Cup Series playoff event this weekend. This track continues to stand out from other playoff venues, and Chase Elliott has shared his perspective on the specific challenge it presents, giving valuable Chase Elliott Roval NASCAR insight as competitors prepare for the crucial elimination race in the Round of 12.
The Roval’s Distinct Position in NASCAR’s Playoff Schedule
Since its debut in 2018, the Charlotte Roval has delivered high-stakes drama, serving as the pivotal sixth playoff event for the sixth consecutive year. Its unique blend of road course and oval elements distinguishes it from traditional circuits, testing drivers in unfamiliar ways. The Roval has produced a different winner nearly every year, although Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have each claimed two victories, showing how elite performers can adapt to its peculiarities.
Chase Elliott Explains the Roval’s Unusual Characteristics
When questioned about how the Roval compares to other road courses on the NASCAR schedule, Elliott offered frank observations.
“It’s just about how much of a natural flow it has; that’s the only difference I see with it. This is just a place that doesn’t have a very good natural flow. You go to Watkins Glen, and it flows, whether you like it or not.”
— Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver.
Continuing, he provided further detail on what makes traditional circuits more straightforward for drivers.
“That’s just kind of what it is, the way the racetrack was built, where certain turns set you up for the next one. And that’s how a lot of road courses are.”
— Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver.
He contrasted the Charlotte venue to other iconic road courses.
“That were purpose-built that way. Sonoma was that way in a lot of ways. COTA is that way in a lot of ways, and this place is just not. And I think that’s where, coming back to finding that within yourself, creating that rhythm, creating that flow, is going to help you create repetition and lap time and be able to hit your marks and do it throughout the entirety of a run,”
the Hendrick Motorsports driver continued.
Building Rhythm at the Charlotte Roval Is a Constant Challenge
Elliott highlighted that after several years of competition on the Roval, its unconventional layout remains challenging for drivers. Unlike purpose-built circuits such as Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), or Watkins Glen, which naturally guide drivers through a flowing sequence of corners, Charlotte’s makeshift course interrupts rhythm and forces drivers to adapt constantly.
He insisted that establishing consistent flow lap after lap is essential for top results at any road course, but especially difficult at the Roval. The task for drivers like Elliott and Kyle Larson is to find ways to construct a rhythm where none is provided by the track’s layout itself. According to Elliott, there have been weekends where he managed to achieve this, but just as often the elusive balance has slipped away.
The Road Ahead for Elliott and the Playoff Field
As the Cup Series returns to Charlotte, drivers such as Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and Elliott himself prepare for another test of adaptability. Mastery over the Roval’s unpredictable flow could be the deciding factor in which competitors advance in the playoffs. The drivers’ ability to create consistency and composure on a track that challenges both equipment and concentration will likely shape the playoff outcome.
