The 2021 Bank of America Roval 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 10, 2021, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 109 laps on the road course, it was the 32nd race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the sixth race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 12.
Report
Background
Since 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, .
During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers "cheating" the backstretch chicane on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during restarts. In the summer of 2019, the bus stop on the backstretch was changed and deepened, becoming a permanent part of the circuit, compared to the previous year where it was improvised.
If a driver fails to legally make the backstretch bus stop, the driver must skip the frontstretch chicane and make a complete stop by the dotted line on the exit before being allowed to continue. A driver who misses the frontstretch chicane must stop before the exit.
On October 9, 2021, NASCAR removed six sets of six yellow and black rumble strips from the layout after Josh Bilicki's No. 07 car suffered catastrophic front end damage from one set of strips during the Xfinity race earlier that day.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 52 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 7 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 11 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 14 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 16 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 17 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 18 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 19 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 20 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 21 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 22 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 23 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 24 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 25 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 26 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 27 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 29 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 32 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 33 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 35 78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford 36 52 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 37 15 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 38 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 39 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports ToyotaOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 25
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 03 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 84 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 66 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 57 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 210 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 25
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 84 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 75 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 66 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 48 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 210 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 59
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 109 452 29 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 109 353 16 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 109 344 9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 109 475 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 109 326 30 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 109 317 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 109 428 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 109 299 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 109 4310 12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 109 2911 11 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 109 3012 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 109 4413 25 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 109 2414 15 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 109 2315 14 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 109 2216 19 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 109 2317 17 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 109 2018 23 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 109 1919 31 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 109 1820 2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 109 2121 18 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 109 1622 22 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 109 1523 27 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 109 1424 21 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 109 1325 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 109 1726 20 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 109 1127 36 52 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 109 1028 37 15 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 109 029 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 109 1830 28 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 109 731 35 78 Scott Heckert Live Fast Motorsports Ford 109 632 39 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 108 033 7 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 98 1334 34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 96 035 26 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 93 236 32 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 90 037 38 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 66 038 33 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 57 039 24 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 19 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 9 for 18 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 15 minutes and 4 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood handled the features from the track.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty Snider Rutledge Wood
Radio The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. IMS Radio's Nick Yeoman was assigned the entrance to the road course and into the Bank of America bridge (Turns 1-3). Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mark Jaynes was assigned the action from the Bank of America bridge to the middle of the infield section. Doug Turnbull called the action exiting in infield into the oval Turn 1 banking (Turns 7-9). Pat Patterson called the action on the backstretch and into the bus stop. Rob Albright was assigned to the oval Turn 3-4 end. (Turns 13-15). Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini had the call from the pit area for PRN.
PRN Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Mark Garrow Infield entrance: Nick YeomanMiddle of Infield: Mark JaynesExit of Infield: Doug TurnbullOval 2 to Bus Stop Pat PattersonOval 3/4: Rob Albright Brad GillieBrett McMillanWendy Venturini
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 1 Kyle Larson 4,065 1 2 Denny Hamlin 4,030 (–35) 2 3 Martin Truex Jr. 4,029 (–36) 2 4 Ryan Blaney 4,024 (–41) 3 5 Kyle Busch 4,023 (–42) 1 6 Chase Elliott 4,022 (–43) 1 7 Joey Logano 4,013 (–52) 4 8 Brad Keselowski 4,008 (–57) 9 Kevin Harvick 2,209 (–1,856) 10 Christopher Bell 2,164 (–1,901) 2 11 Kurt Busch 2,163 (–1,902) 2 12 Tyler Reddick 2,160 (–1,905) 2 13 William Byron 2,133 (–1,932) 2 14 Alex Bowman 2,131 (–1,934) 15 Aric Almirola 2,117 (–1,948) 16 Michael McDowell 2,087 (–1,978)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 1,176 2 Toyota 1,103 (–73) 3 Ford 1,102 (–74)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
References