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New Roval produces playoff drama

New Roval produces playoff drama

A new configuration at the Charlotte Roval provided plenty of pre- and post-race drama in the NASCAR playoffs. There was plenty of action at Turn 7, with drivers narrowly eliminated and a disqualification that changed the entire Cup Series playoffs.

Admittedly, I was skeptical about the new reconfiguration. However, there was a little special touch to this race. The drivers had to be careful in both the chicanes and Turn 7.

With the NASCAR playoffs limited to the final four races of the season, things are looking up quite a bit. Las Vegas, Homestead-Miami and Martinsville await these Round of 8 drivers.

Shane van Gisbergen takes home the NASCAR pole prizes

At the start of NASCAR weekend, Shane van Gisbergen went out and did SVG stuff. He won both the Xfinity and Cup Series pole awards.

Sweeping the poles did not bring SVG a victory in the Roval. He would come away with places P3 and P7 respectively.

Drivers complain about large turtles

During practice and qualifying, Cup Series drivers didn’t like the larger turtles that NASCAR put on the track. Four inches of curb threw cars into the air.

Martin Truex Jr. said it felt like you were getting a concussion with every hit. Kyle Busch agreed.

NASCAR is causing a lot of controversy over the white flag

More controversies with the administration. The Xfinity Series race ended with a thrilling battle between Parker Kligerman and Sam Mayer, or so we thought.

NASCAR threw the caution flag a foot ahead of Kligerman, who won the white flag. Mayer would win the race in overtime.

Sam Mayer gets another walk-off win at Roval

After his DQ at Talladega and the failed appeal, Sam Mayer earned another walk-off win at the Roval. This is the second year in a row he has done it under extreme pressure.

Even with AJ Allmendinger and SVG in the race, Mayer was fantastic. He stayed calm and collected, got the big win and made it to the playoffs.

NASCAR changes Roval for Cup Series race

The turtles were REMOVED on Sunday. The 4″ humps were removed and replaced with 2.5″ curbs.

This resulted in less violent punches and jumps. But it was still a wild ride through the chicanes and other corners.

Tyler Reddick does an endo in a 3,400 pound race car

Speaking of wild hits and bumps, Tyler Reddick did an endo in his next-gen car. When Reddick hit Denny Hamlin in Phase 2, Reddick’s rear wheels were at times three feet off the ground.

Reddick would end up having to run through the field. It was a nail-biting effort watching him come close to being eliminated from the NASCAR playoffs.

Kyle Larson dominates, Reddick makes his big comeback

Kyle Larson dominated the second half of the Roval 400. He got into the clean air and then disappeared.

Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick drove through the field with new tires. In the end he reached the round of the last 8 via Joey Logano… until…

Alex Bowman is disqualified, Joey Logano takes the playoff spot

During post-race inspection, NASCAR determined that Alex Bowman’s car was underweight. Therefore he was disqualified.

Joey Logano now takes his place in the round of 16. That is, unless we see Hendrick Motorsports win their appeal when they appeal.

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