NASCAR drivers are raising alarms over safety concerns following recent changes to the Charlotte Roval circuit. Specifically, the introduction of "turtle curbing" has come under intense scrutiny. These concerns are echoed by prominent drivers such as Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, who have expressed how severely these changes impact driver safety and vehicle handling.
The Charlotte Roval represents a unique challenge in the NASCAR circuit with its hybrid setup of road and oval courses. The recent addition of turtle curbing aimed at preventing shortcutting has sparked sharp criticism among drivers, both for its physical barriers and for how it affects the cars' dynamics.
Martin Truex Jr. compared the impact of these curbs to experiencing multiple concussions during a race, saying to FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass:
"Feels like you get a concussion every lap basically if you hit them. So, yeah. Not much fun." His comments highlight the physical toll on drivers navigating the curbs, an issue that extends beyond personal discomfort to potential long-term health implications.
Kyle Busch mirrored Truex's concerns, indicating the severity of the situation.
"It's not overblowing it. It's 1000% correct. I don't know when I'll see the data, probably not until Monday but it fuc... my head hurts," Busch noted.
The implementation of turtle curbing is intended to challenge drivers while ensuring they stay within the designated track limits during the race. However, as observed during practice sessions, these modifications have led to cars lifting off the ground. This not only risks loss of control but also increases the likelihood of car damage and injuries.
The timing of these concerns is particularly critical considering the upcoming Roval Cup Series race. As the last event before the Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8, its outcome will have significant repercussions on the championship standings. Notably, Shane Van Gisbergen secured the pole position, with Tyler Reddick and AJ Allmendinger close on his heels, vowing to deliver a competitive race despite the safety concerns.
NASCAR Cup Series: Bank of America ROVAL 400 Qualifying Results
- Shane Van Gisbergen
- Tyler Reddick
- AJ Allmendinger
- Joey Logano
- Austin Cindric
- Kyle Larson
- Chase Elliott
- Brad Keselowski
- Bubba Wallace
- William Byron
- Kyle Busch
- Christopher Bell
- Daniel Suárez
- Ryan Blaney
- Todd Gilliland
- Ross Chastain
- Alex Bowman
- Denny Hamlin
- Ty Gibbs
- Carson Hocevar
- Michael McDowell
- Austin Dillon
- Zane Smith
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr
- Chase Briscoe
- Harrison Burton
- Daniel Hemric
- Corey LaJoie
- Chris Buescher
- Martin Truex Jr
- Kaz Grala
- Noah Gragson
- Justin Haley
- Ryan Preece
- John H. Nemechek
- Josh Berry
- Erik Jones
- Josh Bilicki
