CMS hosts the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America 400 each seasonCup Series will return to postseason Chase format this year for first time since 2016

Nascar’s autumn visit to the Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) will see the return of the circuit’s oval layout for the first time since 2017.

As first reported by The Athletic and later confirmed by Speedway Motorsports chief executive Marcus Smith on the Dale Jr Download podcast, the 1.5-mile oval will host the Cup Series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series from 9th to 11th October.

Since 2018, CMS had used the Roval configuration, which combines the traditional oval with portions of the infield road-course layout, for its second Nascar race each year. CMS also hosts the Coca-Cola 600 in May.

The decision to retire the Roval layout has been timed for the return of the Chase, the postseason format previously used between 2004 and 2016.

“Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been about innovations and opportunity,” said Smith. “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.”

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“The voice of the passionate Nascar fan is the starting point of every decision we make, and Marcus, Speedway Motorsports and Nascar heard them loud and clear – with the return of the Chase, let’s return to the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Steve O’Donnell, Nascar president.

“As the Chase returns, we are putting a spotlight on performance while honouring the tracks and traditions that have defined championship moments.

“Charlotte Motor Speedway’s historic oval has played a central role in some of the sport’s most memorable races, so bringing the Chase back to the 1.5-mile configuration for our fans simply felt right.”

The race will now be known as the Bank of America 400 and will host the sixth race of the postseason Chase.