The NASCAR Cup Series will contest on the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, February 23 at 3 PM EST for 400 grueling miles. With 39 cars on the entry list, no drivers will go home after four drivers missed last Sunday’s Daytona 500, and there’ll be no practice as a “cost saving” measure for the Cup Series. Here’s what to expect and who to look out for this weekend at the 1.54-mile racetrack.
Key Headlines
The race will be 400 miles and 260 laps and will be the 122nd ever race at the track, which opened in 1960. This race was originally 500 miles, until the first race on the reconfiguration, which was won by last weekend’s winner, William Byron. Byron looks to win two races in a row to start the season and if he’s able to, he’ll be the first driver to start the season winning back-to-back races since Matt Kenseth in 2009. Byron also won the 2023 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta, after rain cut the race short. With clear weather in the forecast for Sunday’s race, expect it to go the distance and Byron will have to earn this one, just like he did for the last 500-mile race here in 2022.
Ones to Watch
After yesterday’s qualifying session, Ryan Blaney claimed the Pole Position, with a time of 30.908 seconds, followed by teammate Austin Cindric, clocking in at 30.910. Team Penske and Ford have been dominant at Drafting Tracks, as we saw this past Sunday during the Daytona 500. Blaney, Cindric, and last year’s Quaker State 400 winner, Joey Logano will be up front once again, as will their technical teammate, Josh Berry, who drives for the famed Wood Brothers Racing. Expect Ford to run up front, including Front Row Motorsports and RFK Racing, but Penske always contests for stage wins at Atlanta will and front runners all afternoon.
Hendrick Motorsports is always a force to be reckoned with, regardless of the track, but with them sweeping the 2022 races with William Byron and Chase Elliott, you can expect them to make a charge at any given point. Fans watching will want to keep an eye out for the Trackhouse Racing as well, being that Daniel Suarez won last year’s Ambetter Health 400 in a photo finish against Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch last year, in a photo-finish of 0.007 seconds. Suarez and Chastain always show speed at Drafting Tracks and today will be no different as the duo expect to utilize their rookie teammate, Shane van Gisbergen. Having three cars out there will definitely work to their advantage in the draft today, despite them having to start in the back of the pack.
Kyle Busch is still hungry for his first Cup Series win since the Gateway in 2023, after emerging victorious in yesterday’s Fr8 208 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race for the second year in a row, Busch hopes to translate this success while bettering his 3rd-place finish from last year’s Ambetter Health 400. After going winless for the first time in his career in 2024, Atlanta is the perfect track for Busch to break his drought, if he can stay out of trouble for all 260 laps.
The Ambetter Health 400 will contest at 3PM EST on FOX and will be a jaw-dropper once again, providing another classic Atlanta Motor Speedway finish. You won’t want to miss any of the action, as the aging surface will create an interesting pit strategy with tire wear coming into play. Don’t miss this exciting race on the High Banks of Hampton, a term coined by our website owner!
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