Another course change could be coming for the Charlotte Roval
Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval could be getting another course correction.
NASCAR and Goodyear officials discussed last week the possibility of a change to the infield course of the Charlotte Roval, in particular the sharp final turn that takes cars back up onto the regular track in the area of Turn 1.
The change is a result of discussions following a Goodyear tire test on the course last month with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch and Xfinity Series driver Daniel Hemric.
“There is some conversation about changing the infield section a little bit, maybe eliminating the last little loop,” said Greg Stucker, director of racing for Goodyear. “I don’t know how much traction it’s going to get.
“I know that was some of the input from our test and it came up in a call with NASCAR. It’s being investigated.”
Stucker said the main difference with the suggested change would be to reduce the average lap times around the course by about eight seconds.
“I think it’s very tight section. It’s a big right-hander and then it’s a big left-hander and it comes back on the race track,” Stucker said. “I think they just want to make sure they manage the speed back up onto the oval.
“You don’t want to carry a lot of speed back up there and possibly damage splitters as you’re coming back on the banking.”
If the course change happens, Stucker said Goodyear would do a tire confirmation test in the spring. He also said he expected NASCAR to hold an organizational test on the roval next spring or summer.
During the October test, CMS announced next fall’s Bank of America 500 on the roval will be 500 kilometers in length, or roughly 312 miles. That would put the race at 130 laps in length, making it the longest road course in NASCAR.
The course is currently 2.42 miles in length and covers 18 turns, using most of the 1.5-mile banked oval in addition to the infield road course configuration, which includes a 35-foot elevation change.
Kevin Harvick leads rejuvenated Ford camp into Homestead
Auto-Owners Insurance will step up support of Truex in 2018
Tandy: Night pace could fluctuate "dramatically" in Rolex 24
Porsche driver Nick Tandy is expecting the pace of GTP cars to change "quite dramatically" when they switch to the new cold-temperature Michelin tire in this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Diriyah E-Prix: Evans snatches top spot from Ticktum in FE FP3
Jaguar's Mitch Evans snatched top spot at the end of the Diriyah E-Prix's third free practice session, knocking Dan Ticktum off the top of the Formula E timing board.
Diriyah FE pole leaves Buemi "sad" at how Nissan spell ended
Sebastien Buemi says his pole position pace at the Diriyah E-Prix is "just the beginning", but conceded it left him "sad" at how his time with Nissan ended.
Bird's Diriyah FE podium a "reward" for Jaguar team's hard work
Sam Bird says that his return to the podium at the Diriyah E-Prix was an "amazing reward" for Jaguar's work after the Mexico Formula E opener.
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his teammate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major engine overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars.
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, but his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines...
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.