1. Four will go
Four drivers will be booted from the Cup playoffs after Sundays inaugural race on Charlotte Motor Speedways Roval (road course/oval) course. The four under the Round of 12 cut line now are Clint Bowyer (-4), Jimmie Johnson (-6), Erik Jones (-21) and Denny Hamlin (-29). I think surviving is just the biggest thing, Johnson said. We are going to go down swinging to the bitter end.
2. Roval anxiety
The Charlotte Roval, which is listed as a 2.28-mile road course, has Cup Series drivers extremely nervous. This is the first time Charlotte has used the course, and during open test sessions, there were several gaffes, spins, chills and thrills for drivers. Im terrified of next week because there are so many unknowns, hardened veteran Kevin Harvick said. Martin Truex Jr. said Everybody is scared to death of that place.
3. Royal treatment
The Charlotte Roval is getting so much hype that NBC Sports decided to showcase it on its primary broadcast network. The preceding six Cup Series races, including Darlington and Indianapolis, have been carried by NBC Sports Network. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said there is genuine concern in the garage area about Sundays race. Nobody is going to sleep this week, Earnhardt said.
Godwin Kelly, godwin. [email protected]
