NASCAR Brings Back Oval Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway

The ROVAL experiment ends as NASCAR responds to fan demand for more oval racing

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:23pm

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After a successful run as an innovative hybrid oval-road course, NASCAR's ROVAL race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is being discontinued. The fall race will return to the traditional 1.5-mile oval configuration starting in 2026, a move that NASCAR says is in response to fan feedback calling for more oval racing and a return to the sport's roots.

Why it matters

The ROVAL was introduced in 2018 as a way to break up the monotony of NASCAR's intermediate oval schedule, but after several years of memorable moments, the format has fallen out of favor with fans who are now demanding a return to traditional oval racing. This decision highlights NASCAR's willingness to adapt to fan preferences, even if it means abandoning an experiment that was once hailed as an exciting innovation.

The details

The ROVAL, a 2.32-mile hybrid oval-road course layout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, hosted its final race in 2025. Over the years, the ROVAL produced some dramatic finishes, including a win by Chase Elliott, but the format has more recently been criticized by fans as having too many road courses on the schedule. NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports are now bringing back the traditional 1.5-mile oval configuration for the fall race, which will once again be part of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

  • The ROVAL debuted in the fall of 2018.
  • The layout was reconfigured in 2024, stretching it to 2.32 miles.
  • The final ROVAL race was held in 2025.
  • The return to the oval configuration at Charlotte Motor Speedway will begin in the fall of 2026.

The players

Speedway Motorsports

The company that owns and operates Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the ROVAL race was held.

Marcus Smith

The president of Speedway Motorsports, who oversaw the introduction of the ROVAL and is now supporting the return to the oval configuration.

Steve O'Donnell

The president of NASCAR, who says the decision to return to the oval was made in response to feedback from passionate NASCAR fans.

Brad Keselowski

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who has won the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the oval configuration.

Chase Briscoe

A NASCAR driver who won the first ROVAL race in the Xfinity Series in 2018, but is now ready to see the return to the oval.

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What they’re saying

“Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been about innovations and opportunity. The ROVAL delivered dramatic racing when many fans were calling for a road course in the playoffs. Now there's an energy around the return of The Chase and fans are seeing the excitement that oval racing continues to generate on mile-and-a-half tracks. This feels like the time to bring the fall race back to the legendary oval at a place where NASCAR history is made every year.”

— Marcus Smith, President, Speedway Motorsports

“The voice of the passionate NASCAR fan is the starting point of every decision we make, and Marcus, Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR heard them loud and clear – with the return of The Chase, let's return to the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As The Chase returns, we are putting a spotlight on performance while honoring the tracks and traditions that have defined championship moments. Charlotte Motor Speedway's historic oval has played a central role in some of the sport's most memorable races, so bringing The Chase back to the 1.5-mile configuration for our fans simply felt right.”

— Steve O'Donnell, President, NASCAR

“Moving the fall Charlotte race back to the oval really brings the sport back to its roots. That race has so much history, and winning there is a big deal that I've been fortunate to do. The racing with the Next Gen car at Charlotte has been some of the best we've seen anywhere, and I think putting it back on the oval is going to create an incredible show. It's the kind of race our fans expect and deserve.”

— Brad Keselowski

What’s next

The first NASCAR Cup Series race on the oval configuration at Charlotte Motor Speedway will take place in October 2026 as part of the NASCAR playoffs.

The takeaway

NASCAR's decision to return the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to the traditional oval layout reflects the sport's responsiveness to fan feedback. While the ROVAL experiment provided some memorable moments, the desire for more oval racing and a return to NASCAR's roots ultimately won out, demonstrating the delicate balance between innovation and tradition in professional motorsports.