Starting Lineup: Your Guide to the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400

The smell of burning rubber, the roar of the engines, the sheer thrill of high-speed chess on asphalt. Yes, it’s that time again. The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are heating up, and the pressure is on as we head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America Roval 400. This isn’t just another race. It’s a do-or-die moment where legacies are made and championship dreams can be shattered.

Last week at Kansas, we all held our breath as Chase Elliott, in a stunning display of skill and guts, snatched victory in double overtime. It was one of those finishes that remind you why you fell in love with this sport. He muscled his way from eighth on that final restart, inching past Denny Hamlin by a mere 0.069 seconds. A win like that isn’t just about punching a ticket to the Round of 8; it’s a statement. It tells every other driver that even when he’s behind, he’s never out of the fight.

Now, with Elliott and last year’s champ, Ryan Blaney, safely locked into the next round, the real drama unfolds. For four drivers, this Sunday at the Roval will be the end of the road. Four will see their championship hopes fade away. It’s a brutal cut, but that’s what makes the playoffs the ultimate test of a driver’s mettle. Every single lap, every pit stop, every decision counts.

Your NASCAR Starting Lineup at the Roval

The Cup Series starting lineup for the Charlotte Roval is set, and it’s a field packed with talent, desperation, and raw ambition. Here’s who will be leading the pack to the green flag, each one with a story and a goal. Tyler Reddick, in that No. 45 Toyota, is on the pole. He knows how to wheel a car around a road course, and he’ll be looking to capitalize on that clean air.

Right beside him at the Roval, you’ve got the road course ringer himself, Shane van Gisbergen, proving he’s more than just a one-hit wonder. Then there’s Ty Gibbs, hungry for a statement win, and Kyle Larson, who tasted victory here last year and is itching for another. Further back, you have guys fighting for their playoff lives.

Drivers like Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, and Tyler Reddick are sitting on the bubble. They don’t just need a good day. They need a great one. A mistake, a bad pit stop, or getting caught in someone else’s mess could send them packing. This is where you see who can handle the pressure and who will crumble.

Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte

Cup Series: Starting Lineup

• 1. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 2. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 3. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 4. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 5. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 6. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 7. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 8. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 9. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 10. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 12. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 13. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 14. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 15. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 16. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 17. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 18. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 19. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 20. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 21. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 22. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 23. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 24. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 25. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 26. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 27. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 28. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 29. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 30. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 31. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 32. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 33. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 34. Josh Bilicki, No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)
• 35. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 36. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 37. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)

How to Catch All the Roval Action

Don’t miss a second of this high-stakes showdown. The Bank of America Roval 400 is set for Sunday, October 5th, with the green flag scheduled to drop around 3 p.m. ET. You can catch all the drama on the USA Network, with pre-race coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. If you’re away from a TV, you can stream the race on Peacock, Fubo, or Sling TV. It’s going to be 109 laps of pure, unadulterated racing excitement around the 2.32-mile Roval. Get your snacks ready, because you’re likely to be glued to your TV screen.