The 2022 Bank of America Roval 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 9, 2022, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 112 laps—extended from 109 laps due to an overtime finish, on the road course, it was the 32nd race of the 2022 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.
Noah Gragson continued his role as a replacement for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 car after Bowman suffered from concussion-like symptoms sustained after a rear impact crash at Texas. This absence effectively eliminated Bowman from the playoffs. Additionally, due to aftereffects of his Texas wreck, Cody Ware was replaced by J. J. Yeley in No. 51 car, although Ware had competed in the Talladega race.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK 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 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK 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 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26 Daniil Kvyat Team Hezeberg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Toyota 27 Loris Hezemans (i) Team Hezeberg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Ford 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50 Conor Daly The Money Team Racing Chevrolet 51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 77 Mike Rockenfeller Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Josh Williams (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice A. J. Allmendinger was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 1:21.732 seconds and a speed of .
Practice results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:21.732 102.188 2 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 1:21.798 102.105 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:21.809 102.091Official practice results
Qualifying Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 1:20.755 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 1:21.243 1:20.755 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:21.180 1:20.852 3 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 1:20.829 1:21.006 4 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:21.069 1:21.018 5 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 1:21.317 1:21.290 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 1:21.046 1:21.336 7 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:21.006 1:21.646 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:21.450 1:21.811 9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:21.633 1:22.087 10 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 1:21.488 1:46.131 11 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 1:21.605 — 12 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1:21.712 — 13 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:21.718 — 14 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 1:21.726 — 15 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:21.757 — 16 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 1:21.770 — 17 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1:21.813 — 18 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:21.878 — 19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:22.000 — 20 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:22.019 — 21 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 1:22.234 — 22 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1:22.460 — 23 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:22.491 — 24 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:22.496 — 25 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 1:22.502 — 26 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 1:22.538 — 27 15 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 1:22.538 — 28 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 1:22.558 — 29 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:22.583 — 30 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:22.741 — 31 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 1:22.832 — 32 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 1:22.908 — 33 26 Daniil Kvyat Team Hezeburg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Toyota 1:22.940 — 34 77 Mike Rockenfeller Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:23.276 — 35 51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 1:23.905 — 36 27 Loris Hezemans (i) Team Hezeburg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Ford 1:24.060 — 37 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 0.000 — 38 78 Josh Williams (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 0.000 — 39 50 Conor Daly The Money Team Racing Chevrolet 0.000 — Official qualifying results
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 25
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 84 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 75 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 66 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 48 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 210 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 0Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 25
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 102 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 93 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 05 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 57 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 48 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 39 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 210 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 59
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 112 402 22 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 112 353 20 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 112 344 7 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 112 05 13 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 112 326 21 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 112 317 14 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 112 308 4 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 112 379 17 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 112 3510 15 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 112 2711 26 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 112 2612 30 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 112 2513 24 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 112 2714 31 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 112 2315 37 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 112 2216 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 3017 19 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 112 2018 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 112 3319 25 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 112 1820 9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 1821 5 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 112 2222 16 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 112 023 29 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 112 024 12 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 112 1325 28 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 112 1226 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 112 2027 11 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 112 1028 23 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 111 1829 34 77 Mike Rockenfeller Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 111 830 32 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 111 731 38 78 Josh Williams (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 110 032 35 51 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 110 033 36 27 Loris Hezemans (i) Team Hezeburg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Ford 110 034 39 50 Conor Daly The Money Team Racing Chevrolet 109 335 18 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 107 1536 3 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 107 1437 10 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 103 1138 27 15 Joey Hand Rick Ware Racing Ford 79 139 33 26 Daniil Kvyat Team Hezeburg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Toyota 17 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 10 among 8 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 4 for 10 laps Red flags: 1 for 6 minutes, 10 seconds Time of race: 2 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds Average speed:
Penalties Following the race, NASCAR began an investigation over Cole Custer's last lap behavior, in which he slowed down into backstretch into the chicane (on pretext of possibility of him having flat tires, according to radio communications) in order to allow Chase Briscoe to pass several drivers; NASCAR assured that the Round of 8 grid would not change as a result of the investigation. On October 11, NASCAR docked Custer 50 driver and owner points, suspended his crew chief Mike Shiplett (who made the flat tire radio communication, instead of the spotter) indefinitely, and fined both $100,000 each, on race manipulation charges. On October 27, Stewart-Haas Racing lost the appeal against Custer's penalties.
Shiplett has since been reinstated by NASCAR on January 10, 2023.
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, Kim Coon and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood served as a "CityView" reporter and share stories from the track.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersCityview reporter Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsKim CoonMarty Snider Rutledge Wood
Radio