How many road courses will be on the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule?
Variety always makes racing entertaining at any level. Different drivers are suited for various tracks, and that means the competition level is going to be fiercely different depending on the week of the season for NASCAR.
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is going to have a bit of a different feel to it this year when it comes to road racing. For years, the standard two road races have been the status quo for the cup series.
The summer races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen always highlighted the schedule. It provided an opportunity for road specialists to earn their way into the NASCAR Playoffs (though rarely does that actually happen). However, at the time, no road race existed in the playoffs.
That’s going to change this year, and those that excel on the road are going to have their opportunity to shine. Everyone is going to get their chance to perform on a road track on the biggest stage of them all.
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In 2018, NASCAR will be adding a road course to the NASCAR playoff schedule. The track at Charlotte will be transferred into a 2.4-mile road course rather than the standard 1.5-mile track racing it typically is. The layout has been called a “Roval” because it incorporates part of the oval into its road course layout.
With this being the first year with this change added, it’s going to be interesting to see how the dynamic plays out. One thing is for sure, and that is the drivers are going to have to dominate the road if they’re going to put themselves in contention for a championship.