The Charlotte Roval Will Challenge Drivers (and Frustrate Fantasy Owners)

NASCAR will visit the Charlotte Motor Speedway this fall for the Monster Energy Cup Series’ third road course race of the season.

The Charlotte “Roval” — combining the track’s interior roadway with the oval track we’re all used to seeing — has had Cup Series drivers recently visit to test its intricacies with mixed results.

Just this past week, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman and Erik Jones have had spins and wall collisions end their practice runs early (just look at poor Byron’s head-on meeting with the tire barrier).

Even drivers who escaped testing unscathed like Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne noted the difficulties this track has to offer.

Goodyear is reconsidering its standard tire for use on the track. Good move, since we certainly don’t need a repeat of the embarrassing 2008 Brickyard 400.

Adding to the drama is the race’s placement in the Chase playoffs, the final race of the round of 16 (AKA the first round). This unpredictable race could very well end with a Chase favorite having his championship hopes dashed early either through a late-race spin, a crash caused by other inexperienced drivers or by a surprise winner from the outside of the fray stealing the show (looking at you, A.J. Allmendinger).

For fantasy owners, having your road ringers will be of utmost importance come October. Drivers who don’t have the “road course ringer” label, but are still very good at road courses will also most likely be breadwinners. These include Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex, Jr.

Even then, some trials and tribulations will be seen as drivers old, young and everywhere in between will be on the same page going in to find the best racing lines and the best passing and pit strategies. In other words, it’s going to be messy this first time around, much to the chagrin of some drivers and fantasy owners.

Apart from looking like a giant version of your favorite indoor go-kart track, the Charlotte Roval should be an exciting, must-see race with implications on where NASCAR could go next — perhaps a street course like in Formula 1 or dirt tracks like the annual Trucks Series race in Eldora?