<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=46gUoe_0w29l2jI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=46gUoe_0w29l2jI00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field whittles down from 12 drivers to eight following the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images </figcaption></figure><figure><a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/nascar-cup-series-preview-bank-of-america-roval-400-at-charlotte-01j9veydst4c?utm_source=RSS" rel="nofollow"></a><figcaption>NASCAR-RacingAmerica </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> The Round of 12 for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs concludes Sunday in the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the NASCAR stars tackling the tricky road course layout and four drivers being eliminated from championship contention, the pressure continues to ramp up. </p><h2> Bank of America ROVAL 400 </h2><p><strong> Date: </strong> October 13 <br><strong> Track: </strong> Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL <br><strong> Time: </strong> 2 p.m. ET <br><strong> TV: </strong> NBC </p><h2> NASCAR Playoff Standings </h2><h4> READ MORE: <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/big-names-underdogs-facing-playoff-elimination-at-the-charlotte-roval-01j9pfa5bxy3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Big Names, Underdogs Facing Playoff Elimination at the Charlotte ROVAL </a></h4><h4> ENTRY LIST: <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/shane-van-gisbergen-highlights-38-car-bank-of-america-roval-400-entry-list-01j9mhak6dw4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte </a></h4><h3> New Layout Awaiting Drivers at The ROVAL </h3><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3fmmik_0w29l2jI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3fmmik_0w29l2jI00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>Here is a map showing the old Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL track layout compared to the new track layout which will be used this weekend. | Racing America On SI </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> While the ROVAL is not a new challenge for NASCAR Cup Series competitors, as it joined the series schedule in 2018. However, there will be some adjustments to the layout for this year's race.. </p><h4> READ MORE: <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/new-track-layout-breaking-down-differences-between-old-and-new-roval-01j9ve8ybqdd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> New Track Layout: Breaking Down Differences Between Old and New ROVAL </a></h4><p> The biggest change is the adjustment to the sixth and seventh turns of the road course layout. With more of a sweeping right-hander for turn six leading into a hairpin turn seven. </p><p> That hairpin could potentially create some dramatic moments in Sunday's race, as drivers will be braking from a high rate of speed to negotiate the sharp left-hander. In a moment of desperation on a late-race restart, it could also be the site of a metaphorical Hail Mary pass attempt. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h3> Plenty of Potential Playoff Drama </h3><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=32MSwq_0w29l2jI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=32MSwq_0w29l2jI00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>Joey Logano is one of the four drivers below the cutoff entering Sunday's Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images </figcaption></figure><p> The ROVAL is once again a cutoff race for the Round of 12, and only one driver is completely safe going into Sunday's event. With the first two races in the round won by non-playoff drivers, no one has punched their ticket to the Round of 8 with a victory. Only William Byron has accrued enough points to guarantee his spot. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Two of the drivers currently below the cutline - Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez - are former NASCAR Cup Series road course winners. Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe are also outside of the top eight in points. However, any of the playoff drivers winning on Sunday could take a pivotal playoff bid and shift the cutline. </p><p> Four of the five drivers who have won at the ROVAL are currently above the cutline. Ryan Blaney won the inaugural ROVAL event in 2018. Chase Elliott won the next two races, while Kyle Larson won in 2021 and Christopher Bell won in 2022. </p><h3> Will We Get Another New Winner? </h3><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0hPVy8_0w29l2jI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0hPVy8_0w29l2jI00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>The ROVAL could produce yet another new winner for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. | Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Following <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/ricky-stenhouse-jr-scores-win-in-electric-photo-finish-at-talladega-superspeedway-01j9j1rky5f8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.'s win at Talladega Superspeedway </a> in the YellaWood 500, there have now been 18 different winners during the NASCAR Cup Series season. Will the ROVAL produce a 19th winner? </p><h4> READ MORE: <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/parity-party-record-tying-19th-different-winner-could-come-at-roval-01j9sakd4mh1" rel="nofollow"> Parity Party: Record-Tying 19th Different Winner Could Come at ROVAL </a></h4><p> Certainly, the challenges of road course racing rewards a different breed of driver, like one year ago when A.J. Allmendinger won the Bank of America ROVAL 400. Allmendinger and part-time teammate Shane Van Gisbergen are always drivers to watch at the road courses. </p><p> There are also drivers like Kyle Busch, Michael McDowell and Martin Truex, Jr. who have enjoyed past success at road courses still looking for a win in 2024. While Busch has never won at the ROVAL, he has finished no worse than fourth in the last three ROVAL events. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Add in the potential for a first-time winner from the younger crop of drivers such as Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar or Zane Smith, and there's no telling who we could see in victory lane on Sunday. </p><br><p> This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/racing-america as <a href="https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/nascar-cup-series-preview-bank-of-america-roval-400-at-charlotte-01j9veydst4c?utm_source=RSS" rel="nofollow"> NASCAR Cup Series Preview: Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte </a> . </p></div></body>

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NASCAR Cup Series Preview: Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte

Previewing the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series Preview: Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte

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