Denny Hamlin calls for NASCAR to drop Playoff track after predictable outcome
Denny Hamlin has called for NASCAR to take the Roval off the Cup Series calendar immediately, arguing that the road course race is predictable and doesn't serve a purpose in the Playoffs
Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin isn't a supporter of the Roval fall race, demanding NASCAR scrap it right away.
Charlotte's Roval has been a consistent part of the Cup Series schedule since 2018, with Trackhouse Racing's Shane van Gisbergen being the most recent driver to claim victory.
Although the New Zealander had to overtake JGR's Christopher Bell and Hendrick Motorsports' Kyle Larson in the closing stages of Sunday's race, the Bank of America 400 was a mostly boring affair, with the road course specialist eventually securing the checkered flag by more than 15 seconds. It comes after Hamlin opened up on his confrontation with Ross Chastain after the race.
The sixth road course event of the season, and possibly the most tedious, Hamlin revealed on his 'Action's Detrimental' podcast after his 23rd place result - which saw him finish in reverse following a crash with Trackhouse's Ross Chastain - that he thinks the Roval simply can't compete with the NFL.
"Do you think that people tune in halfway through that race, look at that thing and say, 'Well, this is more compelling than the football just turned off?'" Hamlin asked.
The 44 year old argued that, in his view, simply moving to Charlotte's oval would be a smart decision by NASCAR, as it would produce a much less predictable outcome (considering van Gisbergen has claimed five consecutive road course victories).
"If this is on the oval, can you tell me who's going to win on the oval? I don't think so," he said.
"The [Coca-Cola] 600 was widely entertaining. The mile-and-a-half product with this car is amazing. I'm fairly certain that it is on the schedule simply because it's SMI's (Speedway Motorsports) date."
Hamlin indicated that NASCAR is determined to include a road course in the Playoffs and that, with SMI controlling both this date and the Roval, the organization's options are severely limited. Nevertheless, he also pointed out that SMI also controls Sonoma, which might serve as a superior option if NASCAR remains committed to maintaining a road course.
Yet, Hamlin also clarified that, in his view, there's no requirement for a road course event to be part of the Playoffs whatsoever, referencing how early in his career, it wasn't considered essential.
"Someone has to give. Either NASCAR has to give on the schedule and say, 'Do we really have to have a road course in the final 10? Yes or no?' The answer is probably no, that you don't have to. We used to not have to," he said.
"Because I believe that if SMI and or NASCAR wants an instant bump in ratings and in ticket sales, in 2026, they announce, 'We're going to be racing in Charlotte in October, but we're going to be racing left turns.' I think your fan sentiment would go up."
Given NASCAR's steadily declining ratings this season and its recent competition with the NFL and College Football, a boost in fan sentiment is much needed.
However, as it stands, Hamlin may be disappointed as the Roval is scheduled to return on October 11, 2026. Although the Playoff format has not been announced yet, changes to its current 10-race structure seem imminent.
As it remains the fifth from last race of the season, it will likely continue to be a Playoff track for now.