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Charlotte, NC – In a significant shift for the NASCAR Cup Series, the Charlotte Roval will be absent from the 2026 schedule. The road course configuration at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has hosted a playoff race since 2018, is being replaced by a traditional oval event. Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI), confirmed the decision on Tuesday, appearing on the popular podcast "Dale Jr. Download."
The change, which comes just weeks before the 2026 season commences, will see the sixth race of the newly reinstated ten-race "Chase" playoff format revert to an oval configuration at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This marks a notable departure from the series’ recent embrace of road course racing, particularly within its championship contention.
Smith detailed the strategic discussions that led to the removal of the Roval from the schedule. He indicated that the idea was initially proposed by executive Jessica Fickenscher during a recent internal meeting and rapidly gained consensus. Following consultations with NASCAR officials, broadcast partners, and the event’s sponsor, Bank of America, the decision received widespread support.
"At the time when we introduced the Roval, it was when road courses were having this amazing surge," Smith explained on the podcast. "Fans were saying we love road courses, it kind of raced like a short track, and so we brought out the Roval and it provided another road in the schedule and the playoffs. It made for something new and different. It was one of the highest rated races for TV in a couple of years. Great growth, great excitement, some great highlights from the race."
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However, Smith elaborated on the evolving dynamics that influenced the decision, citing the impact of the Next Gen car and current officiating practices. "But I think the new car and the way NASCAR officiates the racing isn’t as exciting as it had been, initially. We want to deliver excitement and a great event with fantastic competition."
The introduction of the Charlotte Roval in 2018 coincided with a period of heightened fan interest in road course racing within NASCAR. The inaugural event at the 2.28-mile combined road course and oval layout delivered a dramatic finish, with Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. colliding in the final corners, allowing Ryan Blaney to seize the victory. For several seasons, the Roval served as the critical Round of 12 cutoff race in the playoff format, frequently producing unpredictable outcomes and intense championship battles. Shane van Gisbergen, the Supercars champion, achieved a memorable victory at the Roval in 2023, a testament to the circuit’s challenging nature.
Despite the Roval’s historical significance and its role in playoff drama, its on-track product has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. Many observers, including drivers, have noted that the Next Gen car, while excelling on traditional ovals, has not consistently produced the same level of excitement on road course circuits compared to its predecessors. This sentiment was amplified by the exceptional performance of the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte’s oval, which featured a remarkable last-to-first drive by Ross Chastain and was widely lauded as one of the season’s most compelling races.
This shift in perspective was notably echoed by former Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski. Last fall, Keselowski publicly advocated for the Roval’s removal, joining a chorus of voices urging NASCAR and track officials to reinstate a full oval race at Charlotte. His outspoken stance underscored a growing sentiment within the garage and among some fan segments that the Roval’s unique blend of disciplines was no longer serving its intended purpose of maximizing on-track excitement and competitive parity.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule featured six races on road or street courses. However, three of these venues will not return in 2026. In a concurrent development, NASCAR has announced the addition of a new street course race in San Diego, which will host an event at Naval Base Coronado. This addition will bring the total number of road and street course races on the 2026 schedule to four. Importantly, all of these road and street course events are slated to take place during the regular season, further emphasizing the shift away from incorporating such disciplines into the playoff structure.
The decision to reinstate an oval race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will mark the first time since 2017 that the track hosts two points-paying oval races within a single Cup Series season. The last occasion of this nature saw Martin Truex Jr. emerge victorious in the fall 500-mile event, a race that has historically been a cornerstone of the NASCAR calendar. The return to a dual-oval format at Charlotte is expected to resonate with traditionalists and potentially align with the perceived strengths of the current generation of Cup Series machinery. The specific date and format of the new oval race are anticipated to be announced as part of the comprehensive 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule release.
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