NASCAR Cup Series: Length of Charlotte roval race confirmed

By Asher Fair | Jul 12, 2018

CHARLOTTE, NC - JULY 10: Daniel Suarez turns his number 19 Cup car through the course during testing at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway on July 10, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /

The length of the NASCAR Cup Series round of 16 playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval in September has been confirmed.

The second of two visits to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is scheduled to take place at the end of September in the final race of the first round, the round of 16, of this year’s Cup Series playoffs.

While the first race of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the Coca-Cola 600, which was held on Memorial Day Sunday at the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval, the second race of the season at the track is scheduled to take place on the track’s interior road course and parts of the oval. The roval is a 17-turn, 2.28-mile (3.669-kilometer) course.

This race at the roval had been billed as a 500-kilometer race by Charlotte Motor Speedway, meaning it would have been a 136-lap race, which would have made it a 310.08-mile (498.984-kilometer) race to be exact.

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After all, the race’s name was the Bank of America 500, and it had been a 500-mile race when it was previously held on the oval track. This is the first season during which the race is scheduled to be held on the roval.

That said, the length of this year’s Charlotte Motor Speedway roval race had not been officially confirmed as 500 kilometers. Last week, it was announced that the length of the race would likely be 400 kilometers and that an official announcement would be made around the time of the first of two planned test days at the track this month.

That test date was Tuesday, July 10, and an official announcement regarding the length of this year’s Charlotte Motor Speedway roval race was made the day before that. The race has been renamed as the Bank of America Roval 400, and it is scheduled to be a 400-kilometer race (399.921 kilometers and 248.52 miles to be exact).

Here is what NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell had to say about the matter, according to RACER.com.

"“Following a number of test sessions in preparation for the much-anticipated playoff race at Charlotte, we felt that this race length made the most sense. In the end, we believe the race length will accomplish the primary goal which is to showcase the best race for our passionate fans.”"

Here is what Speedway Motorsports, Inc. president and CEO Marcus Smith had to say about the matter, according to RACER.com.

"“This is history in the making, and it marks the next chapter in our legacy of providing innovation, show-stopping entertainment that’s never been seen before. Like NASCAR’s first 600-mile race and the first superspeedway race at night, the inaugural Bank of America Roval 400 is going to be a can’t-miss event that fans will remember forever. We’re about to witness a dramatic, historic, unforgettable race weekend Sept. 28-30.”"

As a result, the race is scheduled to be a 109-lap race. The first two stages of the race are scheduled to last for 25 laps each, while the third and final stage is scheduled to last for 59 laps. At 248.52 miles (399.921 kilometers) in length, the Bank of America Roval 400 is scheduled to be the longest of the three road courses this season.

The 110-lap race around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile (3.203-kilometer) Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California in June was a 218.90-mile (352.33-kilometer) race, and the 90-lap race around the eight-turn 2.454-mile (3.949-kilometer) Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York is scheduled to be a 220.86-mile (355.41-kilometer) race in August.

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Be sure to tune in to NBC to watch the inaugural Bank of America Roval 400. It is scheduled to be broadcast live from Charlotte Motor Speedway starting at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 30. As the final race of the round of 16 of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, there will be a lot at stake in it.

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