Kansas Speedway lit up the playoff Round of 12, where Chase Elliott charged to an overtime win after threading a pass from Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace’s last-lap not-so-necessary duel. That split-second contact sealed the deal, proving once again that victories come in all forms during these intense playoffs. Now, the series barrels toward the elimination showdown at Charlotte’s ROVAL, a layout infamous for demanding razor-sharp focus from every driver on the grid. With Elliott now secured in the Round of 8, the stage is set for a race that could unsettle the field.

Charlotte Roval is a 2.32-mile road course with 17 tight turns and oval straights, creating non-stop action that separates contenders from the pack. Elliott, who dominated here with back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020, sits comfortably atop the standings after Kansas. Yet, even for a proven road course ace, this track sets itself apart in his eyes.

Chase Elliott explains why the ROVAL pushes drivers to the limit

On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Chase Elliott dove into the Charlotte ROVAL’s relentless demands, explaining how its design leaves no margin for mistakes. “You just don’t have a lot of outs. There’s not a lot of, like, most road courses, as you know, you go places, and if you blow a corner, there might be a grassy area or something where you can kind of get away and, you know, spin out or run off the road,” Elliott said, highlighting the uncomfortable corners and lack of escape routes compared to typical road courses with grassy runoffs.

This stems from the track’s 2018 debut as a hybrid, blending Charlotte Motor Speedway‘s banked oval sections with a twisting infield road course that forces precise braking and throttle control. Elliott’s own history backs this up; his 2019 and 2020 victories came amid multi-car pileups that flipped races upside down, showcasing how one slip can end a driver’s day.

Chase Elliott broke down the configuration further, noting how the narrow layout and blind spots amplify the pressure, especially in revamped areas like Turns 6 and 7 after recent changes. ” I know there early on that the racetrack had some nuances that were just different and probably a little uncomfortable inside the car, the way the corners were and still are,” he added, emphasizing why missing a corner often means wall contact rather than a harmless spin.

This uniqueness tests a driver’s full arsenal, from handling high-speed oval straights to navigating sharp infield hairpins, unlike pure ovals focused on drafting or open road courses with forgiving lines. For Elliott, who has a 7.7 average finish here across seven starts, conquering the ROVAL means proving adaptability under chaos, as seen when underdogs like AJ Allmendinger stole a win in 2023 amid the unpredictability.

Winning at the ROVAL carries extra weight, symbolizing mastery over NASCAR’s most hybrid challenge and often reshaping playoffs with its wildcard energy. Fans get the full package too: heart-pounding wrecks, strategic gambles, and close-up views as cars snake through the infield.

Even Alex Bowman discussed the reconfiguration, saying, “Turn 7 is like making a U-turn on a one-way street, so it’s going to be chaos, for sure,” underscoring the track’s edge over traditional setups. Christopher Bell echoed this, calling it a spot for “a new calamity corner,” where big crashes thrive due to the compact, visibility-limited design that keeps everyone guessing.

With the ROVAL weekend approaching, playoff drivers are dropping practical pointers to help fans make the most of the action. These tips highlight what makes the event a must-see beyond the on-track battles.

Playoff drivers’ ROVAL insider tips

Denny Hamlin, a perennial contender in the No. 11 Toyota, shared a gem for spectators heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway: “At the ROVAL™, there’s a lot to experience there, but honestly, us running through the infield there creates an opportunity for you to get probably closer to the cars than what you would at any other racetrack, certainly the ovals.”

This insight ties directly to the track’s 2018 redesign, which routed parts of the 2.32-mile course through the infield for a more intimate feel. Hamlin, with one top-5 finish here, draws from his battles in 2021, where infield passes turned the tide, urging fans to snag spots near these sections for an up-close roar of engines that’s rare at banked ovals like Daytona.

Chase Briscoe, piloting the No. 19 in his first JGR playoff run, offered another angle focused on the event’s thrill factor. “I think fans should come out to watch the ROVAL™ because it’s always one of the most chaotic races of the Playoffs. The unpredictable always happens; there’s always big crashes and things that just flip the playoff field upside down,” he advised.

Briscoe’s tip reflects his 2022 experience, when a ninth-place finish amid multi-car incidents helped him advance, emphasizing the ROVAL’s history of upsets since its introduction.

Beyond the track, drivers stressed the family-friendly vibe, noting excellent sightlines that let you view the entire 17-turn layout from most seats, a perk born from the compact hybrid setup. As the elimination looms, these tips turn a high-stakes race into an accessible spectacle, drawing from years of playoff pressure at this North Carolina staple.