AJ Allmendinger, a known specialist on road courses, secured the fastest lap during NASCAR Cup Series practice at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Saturday. His top time of 86.630 seconds put him at the forefront of the speed chart ahead of Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400, showcasing why he is considered the fastest practice driver in this session.
Detailed Practice Session Standings
Following Allmendinger, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, and Zane Smith completed the top five fastest laps, demonstrating a highly competitive practice field. Rounding out the top ten were Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Justin Haley, Christopher Bell, and Noah Gragson. Additional noteworthy results included Ross Chastain finishing 16th, Shane van Gisbergen in 17th, William Byron 20th, Chase Elliott 23rd, and Ryan Blaney in 24th place. Further back, Tyler Reddick placed 25th, Bubba Wallace was 27th, Joey Logano secured 28th, Denny Hamlin finished 30th, Chase Briscoe came in 32nd, and Austin Cindric held 33rd.
The Challenge of Tire Wear During Practice
Tire performance emerged as a critical issue throughout the session, with several drivers reporting a substantial drop of more than four seconds in pace due to tire wear during longer runs. This significant fall-off will likely influence race strategies as drivers and teams work to adapt to the conditions they will face in the upcoming event.
Upcoming Qualifying and Race Broadcast Information
Qualifying for the Cup Series is scheduled to air next on truTV, setting the stage for the race that will begin shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. Fans can follow the Bank of America ROVAL 400 live on USA Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Coverage before the race will start at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and at 2 p.m. ET on PRN. Kyle Larson enters the race as the defending champion of the Charlotte Roval event, adding extra intrigue to the competition.
Context and Coverage
Samuel, a journalist closely connected to the sport and the region, has been monitoring NASCAR developments for Yardbarker since February 2024 and participates actively in the National Motorsports Press Association. His reporting reflects a calm and reflective tone as the series approaches this challenging road course, emphasizing the impact of driver skill and strategy on the event’s outcome.
“The Dinger is up top.@AJDinger was the fastest overall in practice at @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL. pic.twitter.com/OrH2d1oAf3”
— NASCAR
The Dinger is up top.@AJDinger was the fastest overall in practice at @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL. pic.twitter.com/OrH2d1oAf3
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 4, 2025
