CONCORD, N.C. – This September, the NASCAR Cup Series will take on a brand-new race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Monday afternoon, the track announced that it will be called the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
Not only will it be the first-ever playoff road-course race in NASCAR history, but the 400-kilometer event will be the longest road-course race on the Cup Series schedule.
“This is history in the making, and it marks the next chapter in our legacy of providing innovative, show-stopping entertainment that’s never been seen before,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “Like NASCAR’s first 600-mile race and the first superspeedway race at night, the inaugural Bank of America ROVAL 400 is going to be a can’t-miss event that fans will remember forever. We’re about to witness a dramatic, historic, unforgettable race weekend Sept. 28-30.”
Chase Elliott, William Byron, Jimmie Johnson, Alex Bowman and the rest of the Cup Series competitors will race on a 2.28-mile, 17-turn road-course oval – the newest track in NASCAR competition – and it features a 35-foot elevation change.
As the first cutoff race of the playoffs, the drama will be heightened even further.
“Following a number of test sessions in preparation for the much-anticipated playoff race at Charlotte, we felt that this race length made the most sense,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “In the end, we believe the race length will accomplish the primary goal which is to showcase the best race for our passionate fans.”
The Bank of America ROVAL 400 will take place on Sunday, Sept. 30. Qualifying will kick off the festivities on Friday, Sept. 28.
There will be two test sessions on the ROVAL prior to the race – Tuesday, July 10, and Tuesday, July 17 – for teams to get a feel for what to expect in September.
Elliott and Johnson will participate in the July 10 session, while Byron and Bowman will participate on July 17. Both sessions, which run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are free and open to fans.
“Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Smith family have transformed the city of Charlotte with the growth of the motorsports industry in this region,” said Charles Bowman, Bank of America’s market president for North Carolina and Charlotte. “We are privileged to be the title sponsor of this extraordinary event, and we look forward to making history with the speedway when the Bank of America ROVAL 400 roars to life in September.”