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AJ Allmendinger (right) dealt with an engine issue at the Charlotte Roval.
NASCAR plans to make a major change to its playoff schedule starting in 2026. NASCAR is set to move Charlotte’s playoff race back to the speedway’s standard 1.5-mile oval layout. That move would end the use of the Roval layout, which has hosted the race since 2018.
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that the move reflects how racing has changed in the Next Gen era. NASCAR officials now view the Charlotte playoff race differently than they did eight years ago. Competition on intermediate tracks has improved, while road course racing has lost some support. The expected shift would restore a long-used format at one of NASCAR’s oldest venues.
Why NASCAR Plans to Leave the Roval
The Charlotte Roval first appeared on the schedule in 2018. The layout mixed the oval with an infield road course to create a 2.3-mile track with 17 turns. NASCAR introduced it to add variety to the playoffs. Early races produced heavy action and several dramatic finishes. The track also gave Charlotte two very different Cup Series weekends. The Coca-Cola 600 stayed on the oval, while the playoff race moved to the Roval.
That excitement faded in later seasons. According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, the Roval lost support after NASCAR introduced the Next Gen car in 2022. Many teams felt road course racing declined with the new car. At the same time, racing on 1.5-mile ovals improved. That shift changed how teams viewed the Charlotte playoff race.
The shift to the Roval was originally made as a schedule shake-up aimed at adding variety to the NASCAR playoffs. Before 2018, both annual Cup races at Charlotte ran on the oval. The expected 2026 change would restore that long-standing setup at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Driver Feedback and the Next Gen Car
Driver input played a role in the discussion. Denny Hamlin spoke about the issue during the 2025 season. “The best racing you are going to find is the oval. It’s really hard to bring an example of when the Roval will be better, unless you throw in a green-white-checkered finish.”
Hamlin also linked the issue to the car. “The oval and this car work well together. He added that the Roval mainly stayed in the playoffs to keep a road course in the mix. “Other than that, I can’t really see where it has a place.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also responded after the report surfaced. He replied to Bianchi’s post and pointed to recent racing results. “The Roval will always be there when they want to bring it back. The oval has been solid recently,” Earnhardt wrote. “No reason not to take advantage of that. One may complain about the lack of road courses in the Chase. It makes zero difference to me either way.”
What the Change Means for the 2026 Playoffs
The move is expected to affect all three national series. NASCAR still plans to hold those races in mid-October.
In recent years, the Roval served as the final race in the Round of 12. That setup often decided which drivers advanced to the Round of 8. Road course specialists sometimes gained an edge in that format. Shane van Gisbergen won the Roval last season, but he was eliminated in the Round of 16.
Starting in 2026, NASCAR expects all playoff races to take place on ovals. Road courses like Watkins Glen and Sonoma will remain part of the regular season. NASCAR will also return to a Chase-style playoff format instead of elimination. The 2026 season opens with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. The return to the Charlotte oval highlights NASCAR’s focus on intermediate tracks during the postseason.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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