Charlotte Motor Speedway debuts new Roval configuration ahead of Coca-Cola 600

Charlotte Motor Speedway has announced a new ROVAL configuration which will make its debut with the Bank of America 400 on Oct. 13.

The straightaway coming out of Turn 5 will be extended, creating a new Turn 6 sending the field toward a much sharper hairpin in Turn 7. On the front stretch, a sharper apex in Turn 16 of the final chicane will be created. The ROVAL will still feature 17 total turns and a length of approximately 2.28 miles with 35 feet of elevation change.

“Two distinct braking zones are going to really help the competition and provide great overtaking opportunities,” said Marcus Smith, the President and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “One of the biggest things we’ve heard is about off-throttle time in oval racing. In road-course racing, you want as much of an opportunity as possible for a driver to play with the brake pedal, the gas pedal and the steering wheel.

“That’s what a well-designed track is going to provide — those overtaking opportunities — and that’s what we’ve done today.”

Ryan Blaney comments on new ROVAL configuration

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, who won the inaugural race at the ROVAL in 2018, said the new configuration is “really exciting.”

“The heaviest braking zone out there is going to be Turn 7,” Blaney said. “You’re going to see a lot of good passes there, as far as people getting runs, diving it in there and taking chances. I thought that corner was tight the way it was before, but it’s going to be even tighter now.

“It’s going to be really exciting. Drivers like change, if it’s for a better show and for better racing that it produces. I think they’ve done that here today.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway will first play host to Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, one of the premier races on the Cup Series schedule. Ty Gibbs will start on the pole, going for his first career victory in the Cup Series.

“I’m really excited for it,” Gibbs said Saturday. “It really helps to start up front in clean air — it’s really nice. And having that first pit stall as well is great also.”