Charlotte Motor Speedway road course layout is now faster after modifications

The first road course race in NASCAR’s playoffs will be held on a track that is now faster and shorter.

The layout for the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval has been modified in preparation for NASCAR running its first ever playoff race this fall, an alteration that will see the track shortened and turns removed.

After consulting with drivers and NASCAR following a test in October, the hybrid road course and oval will now be 2.88 miles long and encompass 13 turns. The track had originally been announced as a 2.4-mile, and 17-turn track. A chicane has also been added to the middle of the backstretch to slow speeds.

The alterations come after drivers voiced their displeasure after the test last fall, saying there were sections of the track that were too slow and narrow. Another test will be conducted in March, but Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief racing development officer, doesn’t anticipate any additional changes.

The exact distance of the Sept. 30 race, the elimination race of the first playoff round, is still being determined O’Donnell said. Track officials initially announced the event would be 500 kilometers, though NASCAR never signed off on the distance due to concerns with how long it would take to run a 130-lap race on a road course. The revised layout, which includes an additional straightaway, is expected to increase speeds and lower overall lap times by 15 to 20 seconds.

“The lap times were so long that we were going to be looking at a race that was, I don’t even know how many hours,” said Truex, the defending Cup Series champion. “Way too long. Basically taking out those two turns cut out quite a bit of lap time off the laps; it’s more so like a regular road course.”

The roval will be the first playoff on a road course since NASCAR went to a playoff format prior to the 2004 season. Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval has annually hosted the track’s fall race since the venue opened in 1960.

Because of the tight confines combined with the fact road course races tend to feature full contact, it is expected that the Charlotte will not lack for drama or eventful moments.

“We don’t like ‘wild card races’ so to speak, but definitely it’s neat and interesting,” Truex said. “I got the chance to do the test here and it was completely different from any race track I had ever been on.”