With the playoffs now in full swing for all three of NASCAR’s premier series, the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL road course took center stage. The ROVAL course, a mixed course of the standard oval and infield road course, is well known for causing surprises, drama, and chaos.
Adding to the action of the event, the Craftsman Truck Series made their debut on the ROVAL course. These are the drivers who upset the playoff drivers as they vie for a spot in the Round of Four come November.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia and Charlotte Motor Speedway
EcoSave 250
Winner: Corey Heim (again)
#1 Brent Crews: The biggest surprise of the ROVAL Truck Series event came in the form of up-and-comer Brent Crews. Taking the wheel of TRICON Garage’s #1 Toyota, the Toyota prospect had an impressive showing. Crews led 56 of 70 laps, before a late pit stop forced Crews to work his way back to the front of the field, and ultimately collected a 2nd place finish.
Along with a full slate of ARCA Menards Series races, Crews has run eight races thus far in TRICON’s #1 entry. Crews’ best finish previously was an 8th at Lime Rock Park.
#41 Josh Bilicki: Ever the journeyman driver, but an accomplished road racer, Bilicki took the wheel of Niece Motorsports’ #41 Chevrolet for the ROVAL. While Bilicki did not see the lead, the pairing made a good mix with Bilicki finishing 6th (after starting 10th).
Bilicki has had appearances in all three of NASCAR’s national series this season, but has seen the most success with Niece Motorsports in trucks. With only one previous start at Lime Rock with Niece’s #44 entry, Bilicki is two for two in top ten runs (7th at Lime Rock).
Photo Credit: Jayski and David Jensen/Getty Images
#20 Will Rodgers: One of the bigger returns of the ROVAL weekend came in the form of Will Rodgers. Rodgers, a top driver in the ARCA East, West, and Menards Series returned behind the wheel of a truck with Young’s Motorsports. Qualifying his Chevrolet 31st, Rodgers methodically made his way through the field and collected a 15th-place finish.
While Rodgers does have an Xfinity Series start at Sonoma earlier this season, he has not made a truck start since 2023.
Drive for the Cure 250
Race Winner: Connor Zilisch (again)
#87 Austin Green: Having one of the best runs of his young Xfinity Series career, Green had a banner day with Jordan Anderson Racing at the ROVAL. Starting his Chevrolet 10th, Green ran up front throughout the event, and came close to his first career win before settling for a 2nd-place finish to race winner Zilisch.
A road course talent to keep an eye on, Green has driven a mix of Jordan Anderson Racing’s #32 and #87 Chevrolets this season, and collected five top ten finishes in 11 series starts thus far.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw / Pit Pass Network
#24 Kaz Grala: One of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR today, Grala made a strong case for himself on this Saturday. Attacking the difficult course in Sam Hunt Racing’s #24 Toyota, Grala qualified solidly in 9th, and finished 4th for eighth career top five finish.
Grala has three other starts this season with SHR and the now defunct Our Motorsports. His previous best result came at Watkins Glen, where he finished 11th with Sam Hunt’s team.
#9 Connor Mosack: The “other” Connor made a strong case for himself with JR Motorsports at the ROVAL yet again. Making his 2025 debut with JRM, Mosack was a threat throughout the event, led a lap, and brought his Chevrolet home 5th after qualifying 3rd.
Mosack has two other starts with SS-Green Light Racing this season, and has run 31 career Xfinity races dating back to 2022. The 2025 ROVAL however, provided a career-best finish.
Bank of America ROVAL 400
Race Winner: Shane Van Gisbergen
#71 Michael McDowell: McDowell his Spire Motorsports team continued to show progress forward last Sunday, with another convincing top five run. Rolling off in his Chevrolet from the sixth spot, McDowell stayed with the leaders throughout the race and brought home a 5th-place finish.
A noted road racing talent, McDowell and his Spire crew have had a recent wave of momentum, finishing no worse then 17th in the last five races. McDowell also finished 4th in Sonoma, and 5th in Mexico City.
#60 Ryan Preece: Preece’s career season with RFK Racing continued at the ROVAL, having another strong finish for a self-admitted “not a road course guy”. Starting his #60 Ford towards the back of the field (29th), Preece had a quietly strong finish and collected a 6th-place effort.
Currently sitting 18th in points, Preece and his RFK crew have had a banner year for a first year team. Preece’s last top five came with a 5th-place effort in Iowa.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Jordan Bank/Getty Images
#99 Daniel Suarez: While teammate SVG handedly won the event, Suarez was also able to pick up a top ten finish in the crazy final laps of the event. Despite a late race incident with A.J. Allmendinger in the final laps, Suarez placed his Chevrolet 7th in the final run down.
In his final year with the #99 Trackhouse crew, Suarez has very much had an up and down season. Since late summer however, Suarez has three 7th place finishes (Watkins Glen, Richmond, and the ROVAL), and a 2nd place finish in the second Daytona event.