CONCORD, N.C. -- At one point in NASCAR history, Charlotte Motor Speedway wasn't among driver favorites. That is no longer the case, however, as the competitors relish the opportunity to compete at the Concord facility.
"It's become a great racetrack again," Joey Logano told media members on Saturday. "It was great, and there was a moment in time where everyone was kind of 'eh' about it, and that's really why the Roval started.
"Now, it's kind of like, 'I don't know if we need the Roval.' The oval is fantastic. The racing that we see on this racetrack has been great."
Charlotte is a track that held multiple events each season for many years. The drivers competed in two points-paying races, as well as the All-Star Race.
The situation changed in 2018. NASCAR introduced the Roval -- part road course, part oval. This replaced the second race on the oval and added another wrinkle to the playoff schedule.
The Roval has remained on the schedule ever since, while the All-Star Race has moved to other destinations. This has left the 1.5-mile oval with only one event.
Some drivers consider this a shame.
"The oval itself has kind of turned into a lot of our favorite tracks," Chase Briscoe said. "To be able to run here in the Spring is fun.
"The road course is fun too, but the oval has a little more just characteristics to it. It is one that I think we are all excited for, because as a driver, it is one of those places that you feel like you can make a difference."
Don't let there be any confusion --- the track is not an easy one to navigate. It doesn't have a smooth, glass-like surface. It's rough, and it takes a toll on the drivers as they work through the field and try to gain positions.
It's a track they can only describe as physical, or as a "bucking bronco."
"Yeah, it's going to be 600 miles of speed bumps," Ryan Preece said.
But despite the physical toll, Charlotte still delivers excitement for the drivers in the field. They have more options at Charlotte than they do at many other tracks on the schedule. They feel more in control of their cars and their destinies.
They just have fun when they battle for the win around NASCAR's home track, and they only expect this to continue in future seasons.
"Charlotte is a place where you can move around a lot, do different things with how you load the race car and how the bumps affect you," Alex Bowman said. "Looking forward to this weekend because it should be a good one for us."
Said Michael McDowell, "There's never a dull moment. There's never a moment when you're relaxed or you feel super relaxed and confident. So I think that's fun.
"Every year, it's getting a little worse and worse, which I know sounds silly, but it's more fun. It's more challenging."