Since 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is 2.28 miles (3.67 km) in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, 400 kilometres (250 mi).[8][9][10]
During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers "cheating" the backstretch chicane on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during restarts. In the summer of 2019, the bus stop on the backstretch was changed and deepened, becoming a permanent part of the circuit, compared to the previous year where it was improvised.
If a driver fails to legally make the backstretch bus stop, the driver must skip the frontstretch chicane and make a complete stop by the dotted line on the exit before being allowed to continue. A driver who misses the frontstretch chicane must stop before the exit.
[11][12]
Noah Gragson continued his role as a replacement for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 car after Bowman suffered from concussion-like symptoms sustained after a rear impact crash at Texas.[13] This absence effectively eliminated Bowman from the playoffs. Additionally, due to aftereffects of his Texas wreck, Cody Ware was replaced by J. J. Yeley in No. 51 car, although Ware had competed in the Talladega race.[14]
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver.
(i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Average speed: 86.661 miles per hour (139.467 km/h)
Penalties
Following the race, NASCAR began an investigation over Cole Custer's last lap behavior, in which he slowed down into backstretch into the chicane (on pretext of possibility of him having flat tires, according to radio communications) in order to allow Chase Briscoe to pass several drivers; NASCAR assured that the Round of 8 grid would not change as a result of the investigation.[17] On October 11, NASCAR docked Custer 50 driver and owner points, suspended his crew chief Mike Shiplett (who made the flat tire radio communication, instead of the spotter) indefinitely, and fined both $100,000 each, on race manipulation charges.[18] On October 27, Stewart-Haas Racing lost the appeal against Custer's penalties.[19]
Shiplett has since been reinstated by NASCAR on January 10, 2023.[20]
The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. IMS Radio's Nick Yeoman was assigned the entrance to the road course and into the Bank of America bridge (Turns 1-3). Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mark Jaynes was assigned the action from the Bank of America bridge to the middle of the infield section. Doug Turnbull called the action exiting in infield into the oval Turn 1 banking (Turns 7-9). Pat Patterson called the action on the backstretch and into the bus stop. Rob Albright was assigned to the oval Turn 3-4 end. (Turns 13-15). Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Alan Cavanna, and Wendy Venturini had the call from the pit area for PRN.
^"Charlotte Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
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