Roush Fenway Set for Inaugural Battle at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL
With just eight races left in the 2018 season, the NASCAR circuit makes a stop just down the road at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. However, it’s not the normal fall trip to the 1.5-mile track that drivers and teams are preparing for. This weekend, the 2.28-mile ROVAL makes its debut, bringing plenty of unknowns and excitement for both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). RFR has a combined nine road course wins in the two series, looking to conquer the one in its own backyard this weekend.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Sunday, September 30 | 2 p.m. ET
NBC, PRN, Sirius 90
· Trevor Bayne, No. 6 AdvoCare Rehydrate Ford Fusion
· Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 SunnyD Ford Fusion
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Saturday, September 29 | 3 p.m. ET
NBCSN, PRN, Sirius 90
Ryan Reed, No. 16 Drive Down A1C Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang
Ty Majeski, No. 60 Ford Performance Mustang
Road Course Racing
Overall, Roush Fenway has 314 starts on road courses in MENCS and NXS action with nine wins, 55 top fives, 115 top-10s, eight poles and 763 laps led. In Cup action alone, Jack Roush’s Fords have an average finish of 17.3 on road courses with 75 top-10 results. In 108 starts in the Xfinity Series, Roush has an average finish of 16.3.
Oval? Nah, We’re Talking ROVAL
This weekend’s action at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL will bring racing action like never seen before at the 17-turn, 2.28-mile track. Once crossing the start/finish line, the cars will make a hard left turn into the turns 1 & 2 side of the infield, before embarking on a challenging adventure through winding hills and turns. Once through the road course portion, cars will hit the oval once again between turns 1 & 2, before getting up to speed down the back stretch. The entrance to turn three features a challenging chicane before cars get back up to speed, complete turn four, and dive left one last time, completing turn 17 on the front stretch.
Victories on the Road
Former RFR driver Carl Edwards was the last Jack Roush driver to go to victory lane on a road course, earning the win at Sonoma in 2014. Mark Martin, winner of the other four road course races in MENCS action, also won at Sonoma in 1997, and went to victory lane at Watkins Glen in three-straight races from 1993-95. On the Xfinity side, Edwards is responsible for three of the four victories, all in the 60 car, crossing the line first at Watkins Glen (2012), Road America (2010) and Montreal (2009). Chris Buescher also went to victory lane in the 60 in 2014 at Mid-Ohio.
As for the Oval Portion
Considering a good portion of the oval surface of Charlotte Motor Speedway is in play this weekend, we’ll dive into those stats for Roush Fenway on the typical 1.5-mile oval. In MENCS action, Jack Roush has eight wins, 45 top-five and 78 top-10 finishes. In Xfinity action, Roush has 12 wins in 121 starts with 33 top-five and 60 top-10 results.
Leg Up
While a good portion of the drivers this weekend will be taking to the ROVAL for the first time, some have already experienced it thanks to a pair of tests. Both Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne tested on the 2.28-mile track earlier this summer. As for the Xfinity Series, everyone is on the same playing field as everyone will be a rookie come Friday.
Point Standings Entering the ROVAL
MENCS
With the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs under way, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is 19th in driver standings.
The No. 6, split between Trevor Bayne and Matt Kenseth, continues to climb the charts in owner standings, now up to 25th with three top-13 finishes in the last five races.
NXS
Ryan Reed remains 12th in the playoff standings, just eight points outside the top-8, heading into this weekend’s second of three races in the round of 12.
The No. 60 car, split between Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe and Ty Majeski, is 23rd in owner points.
By the Numbers on Road Courses
Race Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn Miles
206 5 37 75 6 19494 575 18.3 17.3 43590.9
108 4 18 40 2 7435 188 14.8 16.3 20113.2
27 6 13 17 3 1784 114 9.3 9.7 3874.1
341 15 68 132 11 28713 877 16.5 16.4 67578.2
