has reportedly made a polarizing change to its playoff schedule, beginning this season.
The Charlotte Roval highway course, one of many 10 playoff races within the new Cup Sequence postseason format, will revert to the usual Oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, based on on Monday.
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was first launched to NASCAR in 2018. The identify is a play on the format of the monitor, being about half raced on the turns of Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the opposite half within the infield highway portion. Take “highway” and “oval” and you’ve got a reputation.
Many followers have hailed the Charlotte Roval among the many higher highway programs on the circuit. Although it has been mentioned that these inventory vehicles are meant for oval racing, and that they need to be doing in order usually as attainable.
So far, the Roval has hosted eight NASCAR races. and Kyle Larson are tied because the winningest drivers with two victories every. Shane Van Gisbergen is the latest winner in 2025. This race has additionally at all times been a part of the NASCAR Cup Sequence playoffs, being raced in late September and early October.
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When Is the Charlotte Oval Race?
As at all times, Charlotte will host the longest race in NASCAR — the Coca-Cola 600 — on Memorial Day Weekend.
The second race, now being on the Oval, stays a part of the playoff stretch. This season, it happen on Sunday, Oct. 11, because the . With the exit of Watkins Glen from the Playoffs, there’ll now be zero highway or avenue programs within the race for the championship.
Shane Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing Take a Hit
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Shane van Gisbergen (88) raises the Roval trophy in victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway Highway Course.Imagn
(Imagn)
This replace is shocking, however not groundbreaking. NASCAR has appeared to power the hand of racing on highway and avenue programs extra usually in current seasons. In 2025, 5 races have been on mentioned circuits. The best beneficiary of all has been Shane Van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing. Of these 5 races, Van Gisbergen received 4 of them.
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The losers of the final month, by far, have been Van Gisbergen and the Trackhouse workforce. It’s no secret that they signed the New Zealander for his seemingly unbeatable means on these configurations. The outdated playoff format has been that of “win-and-your-in.” Van Gisbergen is nearly a lock to win a highway or avenue race in a given 12 months, thus securing one playoff spot.
not rewards a assured postseason spot for a win. Not solely does Van Gisbergen now lack a probable playoff spot, however he now has one much less race to realize his factors.
This story was initially printed by on Jan 26, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
