It will be a mad, mad world for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL at Charlotte. (Photo: Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)
For the past four years, NASCAR’s autumn stop at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been a bit of a rock and ROVAL experience with the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
Prior to 2018, the NASCAR Cup Series took to Charlotte’s 1.5-mile quad oval layout, a familiar signature style with intermediate track racing. However, competitors have taken to the 2.28 mile, 17 turn hybrid course that combines the track’s infield road course with the familiar NASCAR layout.
Unlike Charlotte’s sister road course, Sonoma Raceway, and distant cousin, Circuit of the Americas or COTA, it’s a true challenge in terms of maximizing grip, speed and mechanical reliability. Despite the Next Gen car being a bit of a different creature of habit versus the Gen 6 and Cup’s predecessor cars, one has to think that all three play into who’ll contend versus who’ll pretend to vie for victory.
If history has taught us anything about the Bank of America ROVAL 400, it’s that paybacks may happen at the most unexpected time. Drivers with scores to settle may consider a slight tap to remind their rivals about a moment from earlier in the season.
Particularly with this race being the cutoff between the Round of 12 to the Round of 8, expect those battling for the final transfer spots to gamble on stage points in the early going. Then again, passing might be difficult, with limited opportunities such as Turns 1, 4, 8, 11 and 17 being potential action spots.
Last year, Kyle Larson scored an exciting comeback win after his team attended to voltage issues and an alternator belt in Stage 2. While Larson looks to defend his victory from the 18th starting spot, drivers like Daniel Suárez, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney and William Byron hope to lock their Round of 8 spots this afternoon.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Nathan Solomon and yours truly think about potential winning racers and the best ROVAL race as of now.
Podium Preview: Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte
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Question 1
Chase Elliott seeks his sixth win of 2022. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Chase Elliott scored the first win for a Playoff driver at Talladega. Will he repeat this Sunday at the Charlotte ROVAL or will another Playoff racer score the checkered flag?
Shoppe : Chase Elliott is certainly one of the favorites on Sunday! With his road course strength and wins at this track in particular, mixed with his safety in this round, he will be a huge player. While this year’s road course races have yet to go his way, expect the No. 9 to be up front!
Sisoler : When it comes to road courses, you can’t ever count out Chase Elliott. Ever since his first win came at Watkins Glen, Chase has been a consistent threat to win every time he gets into a stock car on a road course.
If we’re looking at just playoff drivers for the ROVAL I’d say Elliott has to be a top contender, but with what we’ve seen this year, you can’t count Daniel Suarez or Ross Chastain out, and there are really good road course racers who aren’t in the playoffs (Tyler Reddick and AJ Allmendinger for two) who could throw a wrench in the No. 9 NAPA car’s plans of victory.
Tiongson : I’m going to say neither will win on Sunday. If there is a pretty odds on favorite for Sunday, why not go with the driver who won his fourth consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series ROVAL race. By all means, Allmendinger has to be ecstatic about his winning streak in Xfinity along with his stellar Cup results this year.
Last year, Allmendinger was fast until he had engine issues in Stage 2. As he prepares to return to Cup and with Sunday’s race being his final start until next year’s Daytona 500, look for “The Dinger” to be in the mix for the win, perhaps in prime position to sweep the weekend.
Solomon : I think Chase Elliott will have a strong run on Sunday, but I can’t see him going to victory lane. I’m looking at Ryan Blaney for a big performance to break his winless streak in 2022. He won the inaugural race at the ROVAL in 2018 and has remained consistent throughout this season.
AJ Allmendinger is another name to watch, fresh off his fourth consecutive ROVAL victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Allmendinger could have some momentum fresh off his announcement that he’ll be back in Cup full time next year, so he could be a contender on Sunday.
Question 2
Ryan Blaney was a part of that magical 2018 ROVAL race. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
The ROVAL has presented many memorable moments in its short history. Which of the races stands out to you the most and why?
Lambeth : It’s hard to beat the inaugural Charlotte ROVAL race! Being there in person for the first event made it an even sweeter experience for me. NASCAR dropped the second oval race at Charlotte in favor of a layout using portions of the infield and the 1.5-mile speedway to spice up the show.
Reflecting on that wild finish in 2018 with Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. colliding and handing the win to Ryan Blaney, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered in NASCAR’s eyes. They wanted a must-see TV event and the ROVAL concept proves to be a success year after year.
Torres : I’m not going to lie, the inaugural race is still the standard bearer of why the ROVAL is must-see TV. In fairness, it was a sloppy one due to several drivers struggling navigating through the chicane and as evident in the closing laps, the formerly known as TUMS Heartburn Turn.
The 2018 edition had a range of emotions, especially the final lap. In what turned out to be one of Jimmie Johnson’s last true chances of winning, his thrilling battle with Martin Truex, Jr. went haywire. They tangled and it gave Ryan Blaney the opening he needed to get the win and really started the trend of winning chaotic races.
Lost in the shuffle was the quest of moving onto the Round of 8. Due to the incident, Johnson’s quest for an eighth championship ended at the ROVAL. Johnson would only win one other time in NASCAR which was a controversial rain-shortened Clash race at Daytona in 2019 where contact with Paul Menard eliminated nearly the whole field and Johnson left victorious.
Behind Johnson is the greater tale. Kyle Larson’s bid for a title survived another round and his No. 42 Chevrolet was a total mess. Due to the relentless efforts, a t-shirt was made as it was one maddening battle to the bitter end.
To this very day, the first ROVAL race will forever stand out because it changed the course of history going forward.
Two laps around the Charlotte ROVAL may equal the total distance of walking that would tire out the everyday folks! Next, let’s reflect on last Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega with the race and points reports from Race 31 of 36 of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Sharpe must’ve loved her pick.
Meanwhile, Shoppe continues to lead the way.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 starters for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte!
Row 1
Joey Logano and William Byron (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Row 2
Daniel Suárez and Tyler Reddick (Photo: Stephen Conley and Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
AJ Allmendinger and Christopher Bell (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Last but not least, here’s our winning picks for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte!
It’s a quartet of quality Charlotte ROVAL race picks. (Photo: Stephen Conley and Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)
Torres : Timing is everything in NASCAR and Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger is no exception. Fresh off being announced that he’ll return to full-time Cup racing in 2023, Allmendinger’s upcoming race couldn’t have come at a perfect time.
Road courses are always a treat to see and Allmendinger is one of the main reasons because he can go toe-to-toe with some of the best the sport has to offer. With momentum and his future laid out going forward, I see an even motivated Allmendinger coming to the ROVAL and scoring his first win of the season. More importantly, this will set Cup history as the 20th different winner of 2022.
Sisoler : He’s undefeated at the ROVAL in Xfinity Series and has looked very quick this weekend in the Cup Series, being the fastest in practice and qualifying in the top 10 before winning Saturday in Xfinity. Coming from the ninth position on Sunday, I think AJ Allmendinger has a really good chance to pick up the sweep this weekend.
Tiongson : Last year, I chose AJ Allmendinger and it did not work out. However, it is 2022 and Allmendinger will return to Cup action full-time next year.
What better way to prepare for 2023 in Cup than with a win on Sunday afternoon? Look for Allmendinger to make it happen!
Solomon : AJ Allmendinger has won the last four Xfinity Series races at the ROVAL and has contended for Cup wins this season. That being said, I feel Allmendinger will finish his 2022 Cup slate with a win and build momentum for his full time return in 2023.
Shoppe : One of, if not, the best drivers at the ROVAL, and being safe to race aggressively after locking in his spot last Sunday at Talladega, is Chase Elliott. He’s looking like a safe pick for today!
Lambeth : Trackhouse Racing has a strong road course program. Both Trackhouse drivers scored their first career NASCAR Cup Series victories on road courses this year, with Ross Chastain claiming glory at COTA and Daniel Suárez at Sonoma. I think they’ll be in contention again, but I’ll pick Suarez to surprise everyone and advance to the Round of 8 by taming the Charlotte ROVAL!
Sharpe : Michael McDowell has been solid the past couple of weeks. He’s a hidden weapon and knows when to strike.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week! While we progress toward a new kind of normal, please do your part to curb the impacts of the pandemic by washing your hands and getting your COVID-19 vaccine or booster. By working together, we can minimize the threat of COVID-19 for ourselves, our loved ones and neighbors.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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