# 2021 Bank of America Roval 400

The 2021 Bank of America Roval 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 10, 2021, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 109 laps on the 2.28-mile (3.67 km) road course, it was the 32nd race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the sixth race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 12.

## Report
### Background

Since 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is 2.28 miles (3.67 km) in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, 400 kilometres (250 mi).
During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers "cheating" the backstretch chicane on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during restarts. In the summer of 2019, the bus stop on the backstretch was changed and deepened, becoming a permanent part of the circuit, compared to the previous year where it was improvised.
If a driver fails to legally make the backstretch bus stop, the driver must skip the frontstretch chicane and make a complete stop by the dotted line on the exit before being allowed to continue. A driver who misses the frontstretch chicane must stop before the exit.
On October 9, 2021, NASCAR removed six sets of six yellow and black rumble strips from the layout after Josh Bilicki's No. 07 car suffered catastrophic front end damage from one set of strips during the Xfinity race earlier that day.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Joey Hand | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 20 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 21 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 22 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 31 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 52 | Joey Hand | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 15 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 38 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 59
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 10 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 45 |
| 2 | 29 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 35 |
| 3 | 16 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 109 | 34 |
| 4 | 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 109 | 47 |
| 5 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 109 | 32 |
| 6 | 30 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 109 | 31 |
| 7 | 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 109 | 42 |
| 8 | 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 109 | 29 |
| 9 | 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 109 | 43 |
| 10 | 12 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 29 |
| 11 | 11 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 30 |
| 12 | 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 44 |
| 13 | 25 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 109 | 24 |
| 14 | 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 109 | 23 |
| 15 | 14 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 22 |
| 16 | 19 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 109 | 23 |
| 17 | 17 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 109 | 20 |
| 18 | 23 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 109 | 19 |
| 19 | 31 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 18 |
| 20 | 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 109 | 21 |
| 21 | 18 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 16 |
| 22 | 22 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 109 | 15 |
| 23 | 27 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 14 |
| 24 | 21 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 109 | 13 |
| 25 | 13 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 17 |
| 26 | 20 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 109 | 11 |
| 27 | 36 | 52 | Joey Hand | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 109 | 10 |
| 28 | 37 | 15 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 109 | 0 |
| 29 | 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 109 | 18 |
| 30 | 28 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 7 |
| 31 | 35 | 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 109 | 6 |
| 32 | 39 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 108 | 0 |
| 33 | 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 98 | 13 |
| 34 | 34 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 96 | 0 |
| 35 | 26 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 2 |
| 36 | 32 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 |
| 37 | 38 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 66 | 0 |
| 38 | 33 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 57 | 0 |
| 39 | 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 19 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 9 for 18
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 15 minutes and 4 seconds
* Average speed: 77.783 miles per hour (125.180 km/h)

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood handled the features from the track.
NBC :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | Features reporter |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider | Rutledge Wood |

### Radio

The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. IMS Radio's Nick Yeoman was assigned the entrance to the road course and into the Bank of America bridge (Turns 1-3). Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mark Jaynes was assigned the action from the Bank of America bridge to the middle of the infield section. Doug Turnbull called the action exiting in infield into the oval Turn 1 banking (Turns 7-9). Pat Patterson called the action on the backstretch and into the bus stop. Rob Albright was assigned to the oval Turn 3-4 end. (Turns 13-15). Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini had the call from the pit area for PRN.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Infield entrance: Nick Yeoman Middle of Infield: Mark Jaynes Exit of Infield: Doug Turnbull Oval 2 to Bus Stop Pat Patterson Oval 3/4: Rob Albright | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kyle Larson | 4,065 |
| 1 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 4,030 (–35) |
| 2 | 3 | Martin Truex Jr. | 4,029 (–36) |
| 2 | 4 | Ryan Blaney | 4,024 (–41) |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Busch | 4,023 (–42) |
| 1 | 6 | Chase Elliott | 4,022 (–43) |
| 1 | 7 | Joey Logano | 4,013 (–52) |
| 4 | 8 | Brad Keselowski | 4,008 (–57) |
| | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 2,209 (–1,856) |
| | 10 | Christopher Bell | 2,164 (–1,901) |
| 2 | 11 | Kurt Busch | 2,163 (–1,902) |
| 2 | 12 | Tyler Reddick | 2,160 (–1,905) |
| 2 | 13 | William Byron | 2,133 (–1,932) |
| 2 | 14 | Alex Bowman | 2,131 (–1,934) |
| | 15 | Aric Almirola | 2,117 (–1,948) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 2,087 (–1,978) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,176 |
| 2 | Toyota | 1,103 (–73) |
| 3 | Ford | 1,102 (–74) |