Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will serve as the final race of the Round of 12 in the Cup Series playoffs. Here’s everything you need to know before the crucial elimination race.
What does the playoff bubble look like?
Chase Elliott (+13) currently holds the final transfer spot going into the race, with two-time champion Joey Logano (-13) the first man out. Daniel Suarez, (-20) Austin Cindric (-29) and Chase Briscoe (-32) join Logano beneath the cut line. William Byron is the only driver safe from elimination, with Christopher Bell (+57) owning the biggest cushion.
Standings
1. William Byron (ADV)
2. Christopher Bell (+57)
3. Kyle Larson (+52)
4. Denny Hamlin (+30)
5. Alex Bowman (+26)
6. Ryan Blaney (+25)
7. Tyler Reddick (+14)
8. Chase Elliott (+13)
9. Joey Logano (-13)
10. Daniel Suarez (-20)
11. Austin Cindric (-29)
12. Chase Briscoe (-32)
Road-course ringers will be a threat
Pole sitter Shane van Gisbergen and third-place starter AJ Allmendinger got their weekend off to a fast start in practice and qualifying on Saturday, with Allmendinger and van Gisbergen topping each of the two practice sessions. Van Gisbergen also won the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, with Allmendinger (second) and van Gisbergen (third) both collecting top-five finishes in the first race of the weekend. Make no mistake about it: the two Kaulig Racing teammates will be in contention when the chips are down on Sunday afternoon.
Strategy will determine the race
This race will be dominated by strategy talks like no other. Road courses always bring unique strategy to the table, but for 11 of the 12 playoff drivers, the question of stage points versus going for the race win will loom large. Playoff drivers Reddick, Logano, Cindric, Larson and Elliott will all start in the top-10, with Bell, Suarez and Blaney starting inside the top-15. Figuring out whether their car has race-winning speed early will be paramount for playoff drivers looking to potentially go for the win.
Non-playoff full timers will be in contention
If you’re looking for some full-time non-playoff drivers to run up front on Sunday, look no further than the Ford teammates of Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher. Buescher is the most recent Cup Series road-course winner, outdueling van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen on Sept. 15, while McDowell won at the Indianapolis Road Course in 2023. McDowell especially has motivation going into Sunday’s race, as it could be his final chance to win with Front Row Motorsports.
