The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval this weekend for the final race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR playoffs. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of the road course race at Charlotte.
Many in the NASCAR world have the impression that this weekend will be the last time the configuration will be on the schedule.
That includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., who recently said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he thinks the Roval has run its course. Earnhardt even said his comments would anger Marcus Smith, the president of Speedway Motorsports Inc.
In his own appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Smith responded to the speculation. One of the biggest questions asked of him was about the future of the Roval. He quickly disagreed with those who have been talking about it going away.
Has the @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL run its course on the #NASCAR schedule? ?@MarcusSMI disagrees.
? "I love the ROVAL and I love that it makes Charlotte Motor Speedway the most unique venue in motorsports." pic.twitter.com/6A0qoio7gp
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) October 3, 2023
"Yeah, I totally disagree. I love the Roval, and I love that it makes Charlotte Motor Speedway, you know, the most unique venue in motorsports, where you can run a road course in a stadium, in a setting, and you can run the classic mile-and-a-half oval," Smith said. "So, for the Coke 600, fans can come from all over the world and see Charlotte Motor Speedway in its classic form since 1960. And then in October, you can come and see the Bank of America Roval 400, and you get to see a completely new and different road course that is unlike anything else out there. And I think it's just awesome, and we are committed to it, and providing that opportunity for fans, and the NASCAR fans out there and everybody who wants to enjoy a special event, and I think it's a really cool thing, and I love that it is so unique to Charlotte."
With NASCAR announcing its 2024 Cup Series schedule today, it looks like Smith got his way. The Roval will remain as Charlotte's second race next year.
