NASCAR: Five Predictions for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 28: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 28: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
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DOVER, DE – OCTOBER 01: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE – OCTOBER 01: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Caramel Toyota (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

Charlotte gets twisted

In a shocking turn of events, it was announced that the 2018 Charlotte Motor Speedway playoff race would be run on the track’s road course, or “roval”, as opposed to the 1.5-mile oval. This means that the 2017 playoff race will be the last chance for a driver to win the Bank of America 500 before it gets twisted and right turns are implemented.

It is no secret that road course racing brings out a great deal of excitement for fans and drivers. Both Sonoma and Watkins Glen are tracks many circle at the beginning of the season as races to watch.

Not only is NASCAR adding a road course to next year’s playoffs, but Charlotte will serve as the final race before the cutoff for the first round in 2018. This means that if you’re a driver who isn’t keen or successful on road courses and in the playoffs, you better have strong finishes at Las Vegas and Richmond, next year’s other first round playoff races, to keep your hopes alive.