Charlotte Roval Race Review and Analysis

 



Roval drama!  The Nascar Cup Series visited Charlotte Motor Speedway for a cut line showdown.  Christopher Bell in a must-win situation walks it off in Charlotte.  Bell advanced to the round of 8 and collects his 2nd win of the season.  This is also career win number 3 for Christopher Bell.  This is the 199th career win for Joe Gibbs Racing as well.  


(Christopher Bell in Victory Lane)


Today was the cut-off to make the round of 8.  After 109 laps of Roval madness four drivers' chances of making the next round are no more.  Kyle Larson, the defending 2021 Cup Series champion, will not advance.  Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 champion, will not advance.  Alex Bowman, the winner of Las Vegas back in March who missed this weekend due to a concussion, will not advance.  Lastly, the Sonoma winner from June, Daniel Suarez will not advance.


This all took place on a final overtime restart with everything being put on the line.  The caution came out for a spin by Ty Dillon and a loose turtle curb on the backstretch chicane.  The field was restacked, as Chase Briscoe who was below the cut line came to pit road for tires.  Briscoe’s #14 team put on tires in hope of passing the number of cars needed to advance.  The #14 team’s wishes came true, with a helping hand.  In what could be considered the teammate move of the year, Cole Custer helped out Briscoe.  Custer slowed entering the backstretch chicane.  Which gave Briscoe the positions he needed to solidify his spot in the next round.  With this occurring, Kyle Larson who was five laps down due to a bent to link was bumped below the cut line.  Austin Cindric pushes to advance fell short, with Stewart-Haas Racing’s teamwork prevailing. 



(Bell Post-Race)

Let’s go through today’s playoff field.  Although he finished 20th, Chase Elliott already clinched his spot in the round of 8.  Joey Logano finished 18th, after an up and down day for Team Penske, he will advance.  Ross Chastain comes home 37th for Trackhouse Racing.  Chastain ran well until his own set of issues struck after hitting the wall in turn 1.  Chastain will advance to the next round.  Christopher Bell, in crunch time, takes home the checkered flag for Joe Gibbs Racing.  Bell ran well and took command after getting around Kevin Harvick in overtime.  Ryan Blaney, who had the better afternoon out of the Penske stable finished 26th.  Blaney was spun out in the closing laps, and although the result didn’t show it, Blaney ran well.  William Byron, who had his points penalty lifted for spinning out Denny Hamlin under caution at Texas advances to the round of 8.  Byron finished 16th for Hendrick Motorsports.  Denny Hamlin finished 13th for Joe Gibbs Racing.  In a poor qualifying effort on Saturday, Hamlin rebounded today.  Lastly, in a scramble, Chase Briscoe fills in the final spot for the round of 8.  Briscoe ran well, as he normally does on road courses.  That paid off today, as the Stewart-Haas Racing driver continues his career year.  


Let's go through today's top finishers. Christopher Bell caps off a clutch win. Kevin Harvick finishes 2nd for Stewart-Haas Racing. Kyle Busch finished 3rd for Joe Gibbs Racing, and following him is A.J. Allmendinger in 4th for Kaulig Racing. Justin Haley also for Kaulig Racing comes home 5th. Chris Buescher finished 6th for RFK Racing. Bubba Wallace finishes 7th for 23XI Racing in a rebound afternoon. Tyler Reddick crosses the line 8th for Richard Childress Racing. Chase Briscoe finished 9th for Stewart-Haas Racing. Austin Dillon crosses the line 10th for Richard Childress Racing. Honorable mentions go to Erik Jones in 11th for Petty GMS Racing. Corey LaJoie in 12th for Spire Motorsports, along with Denny Hamlin in 13th for Joe Gibbs Racing. Brad Keselowski in 14th for RFK Racing, and Aric Almirola for Stewart-Haas Racing in 15th.



In my opinion, today was solid.  What shaped today’s race was the overtime finish.  We saw tire issues, playoff drama, and regular Charlotte Roval shenanigans.  Passing was difficult as it has been all year for the next-gen car on road courses, and short tracks.  Las Vegas is up next for the first race for the round of 8.  Taking all action into consideration, I’d rate today’s race a 9.0 out of 10. 



(The 2022 Playoff Field: The Round of 8)



Taking one last trip to Vegas for 2022!  The Nascar Cup Series will visit Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first race of the Round of 8.  The Xfinity and Cup Series will make the trip out to Las Vegas.  The Camping World Truck Series will have the week off, and return to Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Practice and qualifying for the Xfinity Series will be at 8:35pm ET, Friday night.  The first race of the round of 8 Alsco Uniforms 302 for the Xfinity Series will be at 3:00pm ET only on NBC.  The Cup Series will have practice and qualifying at 12:05pm ET on Saturday.  The first race of the round of 8 South Point 400 will be at 2:30pm ET Sunday, only on NBC. 



( All images credited to https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cup-series.)


For next week's race information please view the link down below:


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