Playoff road courses bring an exciting twist to the NASCAR season! While many fans are accustomed to seeing their favorite drivers excel on speedways and short tracks, road courses are a wildcard, where the competition can shift dramatically. Watkins Glen’s recent addition to the playoffs proved this, as two non-playoff drivers—Chris Buescher and Shane van Gisbergen—fought for the win. Surprisingly, none of the top five finishers at “The Glen” were playoff contenders. Chase Briscoe (6th) and Austin Cindric (10th) were the only playoff drivers to break into the top 10.
The introduction of Watkins Glen has certainly amped up the excitement surrounding road courses. Fans are eagerly anticipating what’s to come at the Charlotte ROVAL race later in the playoffs. Not only does the ROVAL add its own flavor of unpredictability, but it has also been reconfigured recently, which has caused a stir in the NASCAR community. The reconfiguration, spearheaded by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI), even sparked some criticism from Denny Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, leaving fans stunned at the changes.
Chris Gabehart’s Take on the Charlotte ROVAL’s Reconfiguration
The rework of the Charlotte ROVAL includes significant adjustments to its corners, straights, and chicane. According to Marcus Smith, CEO of SMI, these changes were made with the intention of promoting more passing opportunities. “Two distinct braking zones will greatly enhance the competition and create excellent chances for overtaking,” Smith explained. He further emphasized the importance of increasing off-throttle time, as it gives drivers more freedom to maneuver between the brake, gas pedal, and steering wheel.
Interest in the track’s redesign resurfaced after a fan posed a question to NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver about which tracks in the playoffs present the biggest unknowns. Weaver quickly pointed to the new layout of the Charlotte ROVAL, specifically highlighting the notorious Turn 7.
The most talked-about change is the sharp new Turn 7, which is causing a buzz among drivers and fans alike. A new Turn 6 now leads into Turn 7, a tighter hairpin than before, where navigation will be tricky for everyone. NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney shared his thoughts on the turn, saying, “The heaviest braking zone will be Turn 7. There’s going to be plenty of good passing opportunities there, with drivers diving in and taking risks. I thought it was tight before, but now it’s even more so.” Fans are already speculating about the potential carnage that might ensue at the revamped corner.
Fan Predictions: Chaos at the Charlotte ROVAL
Road course races are notorious for their crashes, adding an extra layer of thrill and excitement. One such dramatic incident at Watkins Glen was the Brad Keselowski and William Byron collision, where Byron’s car ended up on top of Keselowski’s. With Turn 7’s tighter layout, fans are predicting similar chaos. One fan even coined the nickname “Calamity Corner” for Turn 7, while another expressed their anticipation for the ensuing action, writing, “This is going to be fun to watch.”
As fans examined the new track design, some were reminded of the Daytona Road Course, which was last raced in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series. Christopher Bell won that race against Joey Logano, and the Daytona course also features sharp hairpin turns at Turns 3 and 5. While those turns are tight, they don’t compare to the newly revamped Turn 7 at Charlotte, which is expected to produce even more intense racing. One fan commented, “Wow, now it really looks like a mini Daytona Road Course.”
In the previous ROVAL layout, what is now Turn 7 used to be Turn 8, and even then, it had a reputation for causing crashes. Last year, Kyle Larson experienced a heavy crash during a practice session at that spot, and that was before the corner became sharper. Imagining the action at the upcoming race, fans are already anticipating an adrenaline-pumping spectacle. One fan joked, “Turn 7 is going to be dive-bomb city.”
The chaos likely won’t be limited to the Cup and Xfinity Series, either. Next year, the Truck Series will make its debut at the Charlotte ROVAL. Watching the larger trucks attempt to navigate the tight corners will be another challenge, and fans are already predicting carnage. One fan remarked, “Whether it’s the Next Gen cars or trucks, Turn 7 is going to be pure chaos. I wouldn’t be surprised if the trucks have a ridiculous crash there next year.”
What are your thoughts on the new Turn 7? Let us know in the comments!
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