NASCAR is set to return to Charlotte this weekend, but this time it’s on the unique Charlotte “Roval,” a track that has hosted races since 2018. This event marks the final race in the playoffs' Round of 12, where contenders will be narrowed down to eight drivers by the end of the day. Once, it seemed unimaginable for such a significant race to occur anywhere but on a traditional oval, but NASCAR has a rich history with road courses spanning 70 years.
History
The first road-course race in NASCAR history took place at the Linden Airport in New Jersey in 1954, where Al Keller drove a Jaguar to victory. The early days featured a mix of British sports cars alongside American classics, as drivers like Lee Petty and Buck Baker competed in their Dodges and Oldsmobiles.
Over the decades, more than a dozen road courses have been included in the NASCAR Cup Series, but the modern era saw only a few options until recently. Since the early 1970s, Watkins Glen and Riverside were the primary venues until 1988 when Sonoma replaced Riverside, which had hosted two Cup races annually from 1970 to 1987.
In the past decade, road-course races have gained popularity, with five scheduled for this year and another anticipated next year in Mexico.
Historically, certain drivers have dominated road courses in different eras. Chase Elliott has been a standout in recent years, though new talent like Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick have also emerged as strong competitors.
Here’s a look at the all-time winners in NASCAR’s Cup Series road-course history:
Jeff Gordon: 9 Wins
A dominant force during his career, Gordon won at both Sonoma and Watkins Glen. He claimed five wins at Sonoma and four at Watkins Glen during a remarkable stretch from 1997 to 2001.
Tony Stewart: 8 Wins
Stewart secured five victories at Watkins Glen between 2002 and 2009, with his final win coming at Sonoma in 2016.
Chase Elliott: 7 Wins
Elliott quickly established himself as a road-course expert, winning five of his first nine races on such tracks. His most recent win was at Elkhart Lake in 2021.
Bobby Allison: 6 Wins
All of Allison's road-course victories occurred at Riverside Raceway between 1971 and 1981.
Ricky Rudd: 6 Wins
Rudd's wins span the Riverside and Sonoma eras, with his first Cup victory at Riverside in 1983 and his last at Sonoma in 2002.
Rusty Wallace: 6 Wins
Wallace was a notable winner at Riverside and also had success at Watkins Glen and Sonoma.
Tim Richmond: 5 Wins
Richmond achieved four of his road wins at Riverside, driving for both Jim Stacy and Rick Hendrick.
Darrell Waltrip: 5 Wins
Waltrip's five road-course victories all came at Riverside during a dominant period from 1979 to 1981.
Martin Truex Jr: 5 Wins
Truex has found success at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, and this weekend may mark his last road-course appearance in his full-time career.
Kyle Larson: 5 Wins
Larson's road-course wins have all come since 2021, with two at Watkins Glen, two at Sonoma, and one at the Charlotte Roval.
Other Notable Drivers with Multiple Road-Course Wins
4 Wins: Kyle Busch, Mark Martin
3 Wins: Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Geoff Bodine, Ernie Irvan
As NASCAR prepares for another thrilling race at the Charlotte Roval, fans can look forward to an exciting showdown on this unique course.
