CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – NASCAR returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for the Bank of America 400.
The race is moving back to the traditional mile-and-a-half oval after featuring the Roval road course in previous years.
—> See more: NASCAR returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway: Oct. 9-11 weekend schedule
Format changes for the playoffs
NASCAR’s playoff format, known as the Chase, has also changed. The elimination rounds used in recent years have been removed. Instead, 16 drivers will compete over 10 races to determine the champion.
Defending champion Kyle Larson leads the standings after the first five races of the Chase. He leads second-place Denny Hamlin by 40 points. Christopher Bell, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Jeff Gluck, who covers NASCAR for The Athletic, spoke with WBTV’s Jamie Boll about the format change.
Why NASCAR changed the playoff system
Gluck said NASCAR’s previous playoff system cut drivers every few races through elimination rounds, then determined the champion in a single race among four remaining drivers.
“The fans really kind of rebelled against this,” Gluck said. “They felt like the winner that was being produced by this was like not always the most credible or legit based on the entire season.”
Gluck said the new format has made early playoff races more consequential. He pointed to Denny Hamlin’s spin at Las Vegas last week as an example.
“That moment may end up coming back to cost him for the entire (season), like that may be it,” Gluck said. “When we get to Homestead in November, we may look back at last week at Vegas and go, wow, that was a hugely consequential moment. Whereas before, hey, after this weekend, it would have gotten reset.”
—> Related: Kyle Busch celebration of life event announced at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Details here
Television ratings
Gluck said television viewership is up about 5% so far this season.
“It’s not a huge increase,” Gluck said. “But at the same time, I think people actually thought there was a worry that it actually might go down because the eliminations and the drama of that every few races, that did compel people to watch, right? Like, who’s going to get cut today or who’s going to move on?”
Gluck said he believes the new format builds long-term credibility for the sport even without a large ratings increase in its first year.
He said television revenue remains important to NASCAR as race attendance has declined compared with the 1990s and 2000s.
“The TV package is bringing billions of dollars into the sport, and that’s supporting the teams through the race purse and all those kind of things,” Gluck said.
Why the Roval is out this year
Gluck said NASCAR added the Charlotte Roval, a road course, during a period when road course racing was popular and oval racing was considered less exciting. He said NASCAR’s Next Gen car changed that dynamic.
“The road course has now kind of got boring or stale,” Gluck said. “And the ovals, especially the intermediate ovals, are like electric. They’ve been the best racing NASCAR has.”
Gluck said the Coca-Cola 600, held on Charlotte’s oval each May, has remained one of the best races of the year, leading fans and drivers to request a return to the oval for the fall race.
Race weekend schedule
The Truck Series race begins Friday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m., followed by a public celebration of life honoring NASCAR legend Kyle Busch at 8 p.m.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race is Saturday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.
The Bank of America 400 starts Sunday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.
WBTV will provide coverage throughout the weekend on air, online and through the WBTV News app.
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