Marcus Smith on Why The ROVAL is Gone…For Now
About this episode
Speedway Motorsports president Marcus Smith breaks down why Charlotte’s ROVAL is going back to the oval for now, citing fan feedback, TV/sponsor alignment, and the desire for more excitement with the current NASCAR car and officiating. He also discusses the return of circle-track racing, North Wilkesboro’s points race, and the All-Star moving to Dover—plus the broader playoff/points debate and how NASCAR is trying to rebuild trust post-conflict. The show also includes Kelly’s “Ask Kelly” segment with Junior Motorsports updates and Wyatt’s racing plans.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller is filling in for Dale Jr. and is joined by the President of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Marcus Smith, to discuss a number of changes to the NASCAR landscape for 2026:
- The Charlotte ROVAL is gone … for now
- The differences between preparing for a ROVAL race vs. the traditional Charlotte oval
- North Wilkesboro gets its points race in 2026
- The All-Star race moves to Dover
- The Heritage Invitational IROC event
- What to anticipate from NASCAR’s return to the Chase points format
During the “Ask Kelley” portion of the episode, listeners wrote in questions regarding:
- Wyatt’s upcoming race schedule for 2026
- What Kelley’s experience is like watching her son race
- The emotions of JR Motorsports entering the Daytona 500 for the second year
- Preparing for JRM’s 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season
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