Connor Zilisch is advancing to a higher level in 2026 after making an impression in the Xfinity series last year. While he remains realistic about his goals, he still aims to win races, even though the removal of the Charlotte Roval from the NASCAR schedule this season may make that challenge tougher. The absence of a road course in the Chase format is a setback for Zilisch, as road courses are where he demonstrates his greatest strengths.
Before the Daytona 500, Zilisch, who now drives full-time for Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series, was asked if he felt concerned about the lack of road courses in the Chase. His response reflected calm confidence and a clear perspective on the Roval’s removal.
“Yeah, I don’t really stress too much about… it is what it is. You know, the writing was on the wall that it was going to happen.
It would be nice to have a road course, but I think there’s definitely better options to go to than the (Charlotte) Roval. I think there’s a lot of really great tracks in the United States and around the world that would be really cool to go to,”
Zilisch said.
He recognizes that many drivers wish for at least one road course during the Chase, but Zilisch believes most would prefer a different venue over the Roval. Though he admits the Roval is decent, he insists it doesn’t generate races as thrilling as those on Charlotte’s oval.
Reasons Behind NASCAR’s Decision to Remove the Charlotte Roval
For eight seasons, NASCAR included the Charlotte Roval on its schedule, but starting in 2026, the organization will return to racing exclusively on the oval track. This shift stems largely from concerns over declining excitement during Roval events. Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., clarified the motivation behind the change during an episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
“I think the new car and the way NASCAR officiates, the racing hasn’t been as exciting as it had been initially. We want to deliver excitement. We want to deliver a great event that has fantastic competition and those amazing highlight-worthy moments in racing,”
Smith explained.
NASCAR continually experiments with changes intended to better engage fans, and the Roval was originally introduced for that purpose. With its removal, the sport aims to reignite enthusiasm, hoping that focusing on the oval circuit will lead to more thrilling competition and memorable moments in future races.
