The one thing about road racing, whether it’s loved or hated, is that many want to see more of it. NASCAR runs just two road races on the season, each one showing a different set of skills for drivers, and two different ideas of road racing.
In August, Watkins Glen has fewer corners, meaning less passing opportunities. But, it’s faster, and means being kind to brakes is a higher priority.
This weekend, the Sonoma Raceway gave the other idea of a road course. Multiple corners provide some passing opportunities, but it relies more on the skills of the driver with so many different types of corners, elevation changes, and ensuring the equipment the driver is running can withstand the punishment that Sonoma can dish out.
Next year, NASCAR is deciding to do what many have wanted…add a road course to the Playoffs. But, they aren’t changing tracks. Instead, they are just changing courses.
Charlotte Motor Speedway plays host to the NASCAR Playoffs deciding race in the Round of 16 next year. But, instead of holding it on the same track they run the Coca-Cola 600 on, they decided to make the Playoffs one that fans and drivers will be entertained with. Already hosting one unique race in the season, two if the All-Star Race is included, the fall Playoff race next season will be held on the Charlotte “Roval.”
As weird as the name is, Charlotte has a legitimate reason to call it that.
Part of the track is run on the infield road course, which begins at the entrance past the quad-oval on the frontstretch, and then twists through the infield with sweeping right-hand and left-hand corners, plus some tight turns that put a lot of pressure on the brakes. But then, once the infield is through, the teams then come back out from the infield and onto what is turn 1 of the main track. They will run the regular race track from turn 1 all the way until they must reenter the infield for the next lap.
The distance will remain the same, but the track is completely different. The speedway remains familiar, but what teams do with setups is unknown.
All that is certain is this will be a new experience for everyone involved, one that many have wanted, pleaded for, and now can receive. September 30, 2018, NASCAR takes on Charlotte’s “Roval” to take a championship field of 16 and reduce it down to 12.
STAGE 1 WINNER: Martin Truex Jr.
STAGE 2 WINNER: Jimmie Johnson
RESULTS: 1-Harvick 2-Bowyer 3-Keselowski 4-Hamlin 5-Kyle Busch 6-Earnhardt Jr. 7-Kurt Busch 8-Elliott 9-Blaney 10-McMurray
NOTABLE FINISHES: 12-Logano 13-Johnson 15-Newman 18-Dillon 26-Larson 37-Truex Jr. 38-Stenhouse Jr.
CAUTIONS: Lap 16-17 (#88, 10 Incident-T11); 27-29 (Stage 1 Conclusion); 32-33 (#88, 10, 17 Incident-T4); 40-40 (Debris-T11); 52-54 (Stage 2 Conclusion); 110-110 (#5 Incident-FS).
LEAD CHANGES: 13 among 10 drivers. K. Larson 1-9; M. Truex Jr. 10-14; C. Buescher 15-18; A. Allmendinger 19-22; M. Truex Jr. 23-38; D. Hamlin 39; J. Johnson 40-51; D. Hamlin 52-61; Kyle Busch 62-64; K. Harvick 65-66; M. Truex Jr. 67-70; J. McMurray 71; B. Keselowski 72-88; K. Harvick 89-110.
TIME OF RACE: 2 Hrs, 46 Mins, 52 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 74.71 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: Under Caution
POINT STANDINGS (Points/Behind Leader [Playoff Points]): 1. Larson, 659 [13]; 2. Truex Jr, -13 [21]; 3. Harvick, -111 [8]; 4. Kyle Busch, -117 [4]; 5. Keselowski, -140 [12]; 6. Elliott, -150 [2]; 7. Johnson, -176 [16]; 8. McMurray, -182; 9. Hamlin, -183 [2]; 10. Logano, -225 [1]; 11. Bowyer, -232; 12. Kenseth, -236 [1]; 13. Blaney, -244 [8]; 14. Kurt Busch, -270 [5]; 15. Newman, -292 [5]; 16. Jones, -301; 17. Stenhouse Jr, -304 [5]; 20. Dillon, -337 [5].