The Charlotte Roval has been shaking up the NASCAR playoffs since its reconfiguration in 2018, turning the fall event into a road course battle with 17 turns that demands laser precision from drivers. With the recent outing seeing five non-playoff drivers crack the top 10, including winner Shane van Gisbergen, it showed how the layout levels the field. Crew chief Chris Gabehart captured the anticipation in 2018, saying, “We’re off to the new look Roval to see whatever the Smith family has dreamt up for us this time.”

ESPN’s analyst Ryan McGee, a longtime voice in the sport, weighed in on the debate, praising the current setup for delivering excitement like the Ross Chastain going all guns blazing to secure his spots in the round of 8 and crossing the finish line in reverse gear, Joey Logano luck’s smiling on him again, fierce battle between Kyle Larson and Van Gisbergen for the top spot. But McGee’s comments quickly drew pushback, hinting at deeper divides among the fanbase. Let’s dive into what he said and why it’s sparking heat.

Ryan McGee didn’t mince words after the Bank of America Roval 400, pushing back against calls to scrap the hybrid track and playoffs altogether. “I appreciate the passion of those wanting to get rid of the Roval and the #NASCAR Playoffs. But I’ve also been around long enough to have covered a couple dozen fall Charlotte oval races, and almost none of them were memorable, entertaining, or important. Today was all three,” he posted on X, highlighting how the old oval format often fell flat with predictable runs and little drama.

I appreciate the passion of those wanting to get rid of the Roval and the #NASCAR Playoffs. But I’ve also been around long enough to have covered a couple dozen fall Charlotte oval races, and almost none of them were memorable, entertaining or important. Today was all three.

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) October 5, 2025

This stems from years of fall events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the 1.5-mile quad-oval has hosted races since 1960, but many lacked standout moments, like aggressive passes or tight finishes that define playoffs now. McGee’s experience covering over two decades of these events gives weight to his view, yet it landed him in hot water as fans saw it as dismissing cherished traditions for “manufactured” excitement, especially with overall Cup Series viewership dipping to an average of 2.467 million per race through 34 weeks in 2025.

The backlash grew because McGee’s praise overlooked fan frustrations with the Roval’s tweaks, like the 2024 chicane changes aimed at more overtakes, which some call gimmicky rather than skill-based. In a sport rooted in oval racing, his take felt like endorsing a shift away from roots, fueling debates on social media where supporters argued for returning to full-season formats. This put McGee on the defensive, as his honest reflection clashed with those yearning for the straightforward battles of past oval races, amplifying tensions in a community split on NASCAR‘s evolution.

While McGee stood by his perspective, fans weren’t shy about firing back. Their responses painted a clear picture of the divide.

Fans fire back at McGee’s Roval comments

“Oh boy. Now you’ve done it McGee,” one fan quipped, capturing the immediate eye-roll from those who see the Roval as a forced twist on NASCAR’s heritage. Corey LaJoie, a Cup driver himself, posted this, reflecting how even insiders question defending the hybrid over classics. With the playoffs creating cutthroat moments like Ross Chastain’s last-lap spin, fans argue it prioritizes chaos over consistent skill, a gripe echoed in declining ratings trends where 2025 averages lag behind 2024’s 2.891 million per race mark.

Shifting to the heart of the issue, another response hit hard: “It’s manufactured drama and gimmick racing. Go ahead and say that to every driver that won the fall 500 miler.” This fan pointed to legends like Jeff Burton‘s 2008 fuel-mileage thriller on the oval, arguing the old format produced genuine heroes without needing playoff pressure. Speedway Motorsports’ redesigns, meant to boost action, instead draw criticism for promoting wrecks, as seen in pre-race concerns about the sharper turns leading to more cautions.

The sarcasm flowed in replies like, “Just waiting for the excuse when the ratings are still low in October if they go back to a full season format. Something has to change, but that won’t magically bring fans back.” Here, the focus turned to broader woes, with NASCAR’s 2025 viewership struggles tied to format fatigue. A return to season-long points could rebuild trust, but as this fan notes, it won’t fix deeper issues like cord-cutting that have slashed audiences since peaks in the early 2000s.

“This is such an incredibly bad take. Truly impressive if this isn’t just a troll. Congrats.” This jab questioned McGee’s memory of memorable oval races, like Jamie McMurray‘s 2002 upset win in relief duty. With the Gen 7 car changing dynamics since 2022, critics say comparing eras ignores how better aero could revive oval excitement without the Roval’s “gimmicks.”

Wrapping the sentiment, one attendee added perspective upfront: “It was also a different car. What is it with you people. The Roval sucks. And this is coming from someone who attends every Charlotte race.” This highlights hands-on frustration, as the current Next Gen car thrives on intermediates but struggles on roads, leading to less engaging packs. Loyal fans at the track feel the hybrid dilutes the speedway’s oval legacy, pushing for changes to recapture that raw energy.