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CONCORD, N.C. – The second half of the Cup playoffs begins today at the Charlotte Roval and four drivers will be eliminated.
Here’s a look at the key stories heading into today’s race (2 p.m. ET on NBC).
1. Elimination Sunday
Which four drivers will be eliminated? Chase Elliott, a two-time winner at the Roval, occupies the final transfer spot.
Two-time Cup champion Joey Logano (-13 points), Daniel Suarez (-20), Austin Cindric (-29) and Chase Briscoe (-32) are below the cut line.
“We just have to attack,” said Logano, who will start fourth. “I don’t think our mentality will change.”
Joey Logano delivered supplies to Western North Carolina on Friday and was looking at what else he could do.
Saurez, who starts 13th, said extra effort has been put into this event.
“I have been preparing for this race for almost two weeks, along with my team,” he said.
Suárez said he was in the simulator four days this week.
“We’ve been working really hard on this track, trying to get used to it, learning different styles, what kind of styles are going to work,” he said. “…So hopefully all of these things will lead us in the right direction. We will find out. Maybe we have a rocket or maybe we have to push everything back.”
2. Roval Chaos
Changes were made to the track to increase overtaking zones…and the potential for chaos.
On the inside, a longer straight was created between Turns 5 and 6. This leads to the new Turn 7, which is a hairpin.
Friday the 5th: Chaos reigns in the Cup playoffs as NASCAR heads to the Charlotte Roval
Changes to the Charlotte Roval could create more playoff turmoil.
It was at the hairpin where Sam Mayer made his winning move on Parker Kligerman in overtime of Saturday’s Xfinity race. Shane van Gisbergen, who will start from the pole today, used the hairpin to pass several drivers in the Xfinity race.
The chicane on the front straight has been tightened, creating a tighter turn that could generate more contact shortly before the start/finish line.
Some Cup drivers have complained about how jarring the curb is on that section of the track. Martin Truex Jr. said, “It feels like you get a concussion every lap.”
Three former NASCAR Cup Series champions cite how jarring the Roval chicane is on the frontstretch
Said Martin Truex Jr.: “It feels like you get a concussion every lap.”
3. Drivers who are not in the playoffs
Both races in this round were won by drivers who did not participate in the playoffs: Ross Chastain in Kansas and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. last weekend at Talladega.
Non-playoff drivers have won three of the five playoff races this season (Chris Buescher won at Watkins Glen).
2024 NASCAR Charlotte Roval Cup starting lineup: Shane van Gisbergen completes pole
The New Zealand native earns his first Cup pole in his 12th start after qualifying first in Xfinity on Saturday.
Two of the top three finishers for today’s race are drivers who are not in the playoffs: Shane van Gisbergen, who is on pole, and AJ Allmendinger, who starts third.
Kyle Busch, looking to win a Cup race for a record 20th consecutive season, has finished in the top five in each of the last three races at the Roval. Starts 11th.
4. Damaged vehicle policy
After the confusion created by Josh Berry’s departure at Kansas due to DVP and some cars being towed from the crash site at Talladega, NASCAR met with crew chiefs this week to explain the policy.
If a car has one or more flat tires and repairable damage, the car will be towed to the team pit box, as was done with some cars at Talladega.
If the car is clearly not repairable by NASCAR, the car will be repaired.
If a car has four tires intact but you can’t drive it to pit road, as was the case for Ryan Blaney at Watkins Glen, the car is ready to race.
Good news and bad news for NASCAR Cup Series teams ahead of Charlotte Roval playoff race
William Byron is the only driver to have secured a place in the next round ahead of Sunday’s elimination race.
