- NASCAR Chase drivers share what makes Charlotte’s oval one of the most exciting tracks to compete on during the postseason
- Bank of America 400 weekend tickets are available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). With college ticket deals, flexible payment options and the best kids’ pricing in sports through the Dollar Tree “More Fun. More Value.” program, it’s easier than ever to be part of the action!
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2026) – The road to NASCAR’s championship runs through Charlotte Motor Speedway this October, as the sport’s top drivers return to the track’s historic 1.5-mile oval for Bank of America 400 weekend.
Known for producing some of NASCAR’s most memorable finishes, Charlotte’s oval presents a unique challenge during the postseason. From multiple racing grooves and changing track conditions to its signature bumps and demanding corners, the 1.5-mile speedway tests drivers and teams as they compete for championship glory.
As The Chase battle intensifies, drivers share what makes Charlotte’s oval one of the most exciting and challenging tracks on the NASCAR schedule, and why the fall return to the Queen City is one they have been eager to see.
Carson Kvapil, No. 1, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, JR Motorsports
“I feel like the Charlotte oval is probably the most fun mile and a half that we run. And I feel like, in my opinion, it’s the most fun one; it’s the fastest one. It’s just really hard, I guess you could say. So for me, I think it’s really fitting that we go there. Charlotte is probably one of my favorite bigger tracks, favorite mile and a half. Really tough place to get a hold of; I just feel like it’s right to be near the Charlotte-Morrisville area, and it’s just a really, really fun place.
Daniel Suarez, No. 7, 2026 Coca-Cola 600 Champion, Spire Motorsports
“In my opinion, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the oval version, is one of the best mile-and-a-halves we have, just because it’s fast, but at the same time, it has so much character. Corners one and two are very different from corners three and four, but not just on the banking or the shape, but mainly also on the bumps. Corners three and four is extremely bumpy. I don’t think people actually realize how bumpy it is, and that’s what makes the racetrack so fun, right? Because you have to go through all this adversity. So yeah, I love it.”
Kaden Honeycutt, No. 11, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, TRICON Garage
“Charlotte just races like a short track. You’ll see us run up on the fence. You’ll see us run around the painted blue line. I think that’s one of the coolest things about the place is there’s not really one lane that’s specific; it moves around throughout the run. It’s honestly kind of rough. It’s fun to race around when you can go from 30th up to the lead, not having to worry about dirty air, worrying about passing anybody; it’s just a matter of working your way through traffic and just making yourselves a good day. So, we’ll be looking forward to it, and we were almost there in the spring, so we’ll hopefully be one spot better for the fall.”
Daniel Hemric, No. 19, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
“The Charlotte oval makes it one of the best tracks of the postseason, simply because of what you can ask out of your vehicle, the maneuverability that’s built into that racetrack, the character, the seams, the bumps. You can run completely down the painted line, or you can run right on the fence and everywhere in between. A lot of racetracks that go to the postseason, some have some of those characteristics, but not all of those, and I think those characteristics of what make it put on the show, it puts on not only for the fans, but for the drivers and the race teams.”
Sam Mayer, No. 41, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Haas Factory Team
“The Charlotte oval is awesome. Just purely because it’s one of the coolest ovals that we race at. It’s super dynamic, really, really rough and it provides really good racing, especially in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. I’m super excited to get back there. I haven’t raced at the oval in the fall yet in my career, so it’ll be a first-time experience for me.”
Tyler Reddick, No. 45, NASCAR Cup Series, 23XI Racing
“I mean, it’s just great to race on in general. For a long time, we only got to race it once a year in the (Coca-Cola) 600, and now we’re going to have it back in the fall, and that’s for me as a driver, I never got to race at Charlotte in the fall ever. So, it’s just gonna be a new experience. It’s going to feel different than the 600 and I think drivers and teams are going to have to adjust to that.”
TICKETS:
Bank of America 400 weekend tickets are available now at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). With college ticket deals, flexible payment options and the best kids’ pricing in sports through the Dollar Tree “More Fun. More Value.” program, it’s easier than ever to be part of the action!
MORE INFO:
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