The Charlotte ROVAL has become a lightning rod for criticism among NASCAR fans, particularly during the playoffs. Introduced in 2018, the hybrid road course was intended to add variety to the postseason schedule. However, many fans feel it disrupts the flow of the playoffs, introducing unpredictability that doesn’t necessarily reward the most consistent drivers. This sentiment is echoed by veteran fans who find the ROVAL’s layout less engaging compared to traditional ovals, leading to a sense of disconnect with the sport’s roots.

Attendance figures have also been a point of contention. Despite efforts to market the ROVAL as a marquee event, some fans have expressed disappointment with the in-person experience, citing obstructed views and a lack of excitement. This growing discontent has led to calls for a return to the traditional Charlotte oval, with many believing it would better serve the integrity of the playoffs and the fanbase’s expectations.

On the latest episode of The Teardown, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi had a serious discussion on this, preferring the Oval over the Roval.

Analysts push for Oval return

Jordan Bianchi kicked it off: “How cool would a playoff race be on the Charlotte Oval? … Besides SVG and his family and friends and maybe Trackhouse, who wants the ROVAL?”

The ROVAL’s hybrid mix of road course twists and oval banking was a 2018 novelty, but Bianchi’s point hits home. Its overcomplicated corners and late-race pile-ups often steal the show from solid racing. Fans and drivers have griped about its chaos, with obstructed views and a layout that favors survival over speed, turning off the diehards who crave oval thunder.

Jeff Gluck piled on: “You know, the last few years of this I’ve been sort of like angry about it … the Roval might have run its course … Why are we doing the Roval in the fall again? I mean, the oval would be spectacular.” Gluck’s frustration isn’t new.

The ROVAL’s inconsistent attendance and fan buzz have been a sore spot since its debut. Speedway Motorsports hyped it as a playoff gem, but in-car cameras showing sparse crowds tell a different story. The traditional Charlotte oval, with its high banks and history, would pack the stands and deliver the drama fans expect without the ROVAL’s gimmicky feel.

“It seems like a no-brainer … it’s still on the schedule for next year … Get rid of that …” Gluck said. The ROVAL is stuck in the playoffs, likely due to TV deals and sponsor contracts, but with fan turnout lagging and drivers calling it an “ice rink” for its slick tire wear, the push for the oval is gaining steam.

Even when broadcaster Regan Smith tweeted in support of the Roval race covering being such an adventurous one, including so much drama, he still met with a fan backlash. Drivers like Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. have also commented on the turtles at the venue causing issues, as the latter had said, “Feels like you get a concussion every lap basically if you hit them … Not much fun.”

Bianchi’s quip about SVG’s family as the only fans left nails the disconnect. Outside a few locals and Trackhouse backers, the ROVAL is not pulling the crowds like Darlington or Bristol.

Herbst’s ROVAL disqualification adds to the chaos

The ROVAL’s reputation for mayhem got another black eye with Riley Herbst’s post-race DQ. The No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota failed weight checks, dropping Herbst from 30th to 37th and leaving him with just one point. NASCAR is hauling his car and Cole Custer’s No. 41 to the R&D Center for a teardown, the first Cup DQ since Ryan Preece and Joey Logano at Talladega in April.

Herbst’s day was a mess. Run-ins with Ty Dillon under caution and Kyle Busch at the chicane’s exit left him fuming. Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Josh Bilicki, Cody Ware, Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Cindric all moved up one spot.

Herbst’s woes tie to the ROVAL’s unpredictable edge, where a clean run can turn sour with a bad bounce or post-race check. Last year’s Alex Bowman weight failure flipped the playoffs, bringing Joey Logano back in.

This year, it didn’t shift the field, but it’s another reason fans are calling for the oval—less gimmicks, more racing. The ROVAL’s chaos, from Herbst’s DQ to its fan divide, has analysts like Gluck and Bianchi pushing for a switch that could make playoffs feel more like home.