The Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL is moving into the ash heap of history. At least for the foreseeable future.
On Tuesday, speedway officials confirmed what had already been widely reported: The track will host both of its Cup Series races this season on its traditional 1.5-mile quad-oval layout, abandoning the ROVAL for its fall NASCAR weekend.
Cup Series drivers have competed on the ROVAL – a configuration combining features of both the CMS quad-oval and a road course, all in the speedway infield – since 2018, producing mixed results for the fans watching from the stands and on television.
But now it’s back to the quad-oval, which hosted a Cup Series fall race from 1960 to 2017. The Concord, North Carolina venue will continue to host its traditional Memorial Day weekend classic, the Coca-Cola 600, in late May.
You asked, we listened. 🤝
The Bank of America 400 returns to the oval this fall for The Chase‼️@BankofAmerica | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/eznYFhLQsX
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) February 3, 2026
Why Is Charlotte Motor Speedway Pivoting Away From The ROVAL?
Although the ROVAL has produced a number of thrilling finishes and exciting moments over the past eight years, the quality of the racing on the twisty infield course has suffered since the debut of the Next Generation Cup Series car in 2022.
Meanwhile, the on-track product at the Charlotte quad-oval during Coke 600 weekend has only improved since the rollout of the Next Gen vehicle.
So track owner Marcus Smith, in consultation with NASCAR’s top brass, decided it was time to return to the oval for Charlotte Motor Speedway’s fall playoff race. The move comes as NASCAR also introduces a new championship format, which its calling “The Chase.” The format carries the same moniker as, and bears shades of, the old championship format used from 2004-2013.
“Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been about innovations and opportunity,” Smith said in a track-issued news release. “The ROVAL delivered dramatic racing when many fans were calling for a road course in the playoffs. Now there’s an energy around the return of The Chase. And fans are seeing the excitement that oval racing continues to generate on mile-and-a-half tracks.
“This feels like the time to bring the fall race back to the legendary oval at a place where NASCAR history is made every year.”
What Do Drivers Think About Charlotte Switching From The ROVAL?
Naturally, several NASCAR Cup Series drivers wasted little time weighing in on Charlotte Motor Speedway revealing its plans to bring the oval back for its fall Cup race.
The event, formally dubbed the Bank of America 400, is scheduled for Sunday, October 11.
“Good to see that come back,” three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin said during a Wednesday media availability at Bowman Gray Stadium. “I think it’s going to be on the fans to make sure you show up and support that. I think the drivers for the most part are certainly supportive of the change back to the oval.
“It’s what we are. We are oval racing. … We look like we’re heading back to more of our roots, which is a I think a good thing.”
The green flag for the race is set to wave at 3 p.m., signaling a daytime affair.
“Moving the fall Charlotte race back to the oval really brings the sport back to its roots,” 2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski said. “That race has so much history. And winning there is a big deal that I’ve been fortunate to do. The racing with the Next Gen car at Charlotte has been some of the best we’ve seen anywhere. And I think putting it back on the oval is going to create an incredible show.
“It’s the kind of race our fans expect and deserve.”
Chase Briscoe, a 2025 Championship 4 qualifier, concurs.
“I am pumped that we will be racing on the oval twice at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2026,” the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said. “With how the oval racing has been at Charlotte, I think the fans deserve two races on the track.”
