Denny Hamlin has ignited debate in the motorsports world by calling for significant adjustments to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff schedule, specifically advocating for the removal of the Charlotte ROVAL from the postseason lineup. His comments highlighted at the Actions Detrimental podcast center on what he sees as the need for more traditional oval racing during NASCAR’s most critical stretch, putting the focus on the Denny Hamlin NASCAR playoff changes conversation.
Hamlin Questions the ROVAL’s Placement in Playoffs
Hamlin, one of the series’ most prominent drivers, expressed his concerns about including the Charlotte ROVAL—a hybrid road-oval track—in the playoffs. On the podcast, he pressed for reconsideration of the track’s value in such a pivotal part of the season, questioning the predictability and entertainment value of its cup races.
“If this is on the oval, can you tell me who’s going to win on the (Charlotte) oval?”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Highlighting recent events, Hamlin referenced the widespread approval of races on the Charlotte oval, especially the Coca-Cola 600, which is a mile-and-a-half track. He argued that this format delivers a better racing product with the current generation of cars.
“I don’t think so. The [Coca-Cola] 600 was widely entertaining. The mile-and-a-half product with this car is amazing. I’m fairly certain that [the ROVAL] is on the schedule simply because it’s SMI’s (Speedway Motorsports) date.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Hamlin also speculated that NASCAR’s desire for a road course during the playoffs, coupled with SMI’s control over the October event at Charlotte, may have led to the ROVAL’s continued presence on the calendar. He acknowledged that SMI owns Sonoma, another road course, but questioned whether there were other viable options.
“I don’t know that they have a choice but to run the ROVAL.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
NextGen Car and Road Course Challenges
Hamlin criticized the racing quality on road courses with the NextGen car, noting the particular difficulty drivers have with passing. He believes shifting to the Charlotte oval would be the best step forward.
“The right thing to do is to put us on the oval,”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
He suggested that such a shift could drive a positive reaction among fans and improve television ratings and ticket sales.
“…I believe that if SMI and or NASCAR wants an instant bump in ratings and in ticket sales, in 2026, they announce, ‘We’re going to be racing in Charlotte in October, but we’re going to be racing left turns.’ I think your fan sentiment would go up.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The ROVAL, introduced in 2018, has now held a spot in the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons. According to a poll created by Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, fan opinion on the ROVAL remains divided, with just over half—56.5% out of nearly 19,000 voters—considering it a good race experience.
What’s Ahead for NASCAR’s Playoff Format?
Looking forward, the 2026 Charlotte ROVAL is scheduled for October 11 and will likely remain the final race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12. Hamlin’s call for all-oval playoff races coincides with rumors of broader changes to the playoff structure. Organizations like NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports (SMI) will need to weigh the opinions of key stakeholders like Hamlin, fans, and companies such as Coca-Cola, as the possible transformation of the postseason continues to spark discussion within the sport.
The outcome of these debates will shape not only the competition on track but also the future landscape of NASCAR’s most important championship stretch.
Was the Roval a good race?
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 6, 2025
