Chris Buescher, the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver, shared his views on the Charlotte Roval and road courses in NASCAR’s Playoffs during a media session at the Roval. While many drivers appreciate the inclusion of road courses like the Charlotte Roval, Buescher expressed a distinct preference for oval tracks, reflecting his take on what best suits NASCAR’s roots and competition style.
Buescher acknowledged his appreciation for road racing but suggested limiting the number of road course events in a typical 36-race season.
That’s a hard question for me because I do like road racing,
Buescher said.
So I am a fan of it from that side of things. But I’m also the guy that’s going to sit here and tell you five (road course races in a regular 36-race season) is a good number in a year.
He added his personal desire to see the Playoffs return more to the oval tracks.
(But) I think that we’re oval racers at heart here and for the most part, I’d like to see it go back to the oval here personally.
Mixed Feelings About the Roval and Road Courses
Buescher’s preference does not come from disliking the Charlotte Roval itself, but rather from a favoring of other road courses on the NASCAR schedule. Currently, the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval hosts the Coca-Cola 600—the longest race of the year—while the Roval uses the infield road course layout for its event.
He stated he enjoys some road courses more than the Roval, though he did not specify which ones.
I think that some of the other road courses I enjoy a little bit more,
Buescher said.
They just flow out a little bit better.
Despite his mixed feelings, Buescher appreciates the fan experience and what the Roval brings in that regard.
I love the principle behind this one and as a fan getting to sit in the stands and see 98% of a road course isn’t really a thing you get to do anywhere else. So there’s a lot of mixed answers in there for you, I guess.
Performance Trends Highlight Oval Strength for Buescher
Looking at Buescher’s career, his stronger results come on oval tracks. Out of his six career NASCAR Cup wins, just one occurred on a road course—Watkins Glen—while the remaining five were secured on ovals or tri-oval tracks. This record aligns with his statement about being “oval racers at heart.”
Buescher did not qualify for this year’s Cup Playoffs, but his insights contribute to ongoing discussions about the composition of NASCAR’s playoff schedule and whether road courses, including the Charlotte Roval, should maintain their current roles or yield to more traditional oval racing.
As NASCAR continues to evolve, how drivers like Buescher and road course specialists such as Shane van Gisbergen influence the sport’s direction could play a key role in shaping future Playoff formats.
