Rolling into race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Caylee Cicero, Editor-in-Chief|March 11, 2020

Atlanta+Motor+Speedway+prepares+for+race+weekend+this+Friday+through+Sunday.+For+event+information+and+to+secure+your+seats%2C+visit+www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

Annika Pepper

Atlanta Motor Speedway prepares for race weekend this Friday through Sunday. For event information and to secure your seats, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

This weekend, the NASCAR racing series rolls into nearby Hampton for a triple-header at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With three days of racing action, three main events, and countless fan activities to take part in, the track is the place to be Friday through Sunday.

Stay on the lead lap

Last weekend at Phoenix Raceway, there was plenty of chaos. Spin outs in the dogleg of the track combined with aggressive driving led to 12 caution-causing incidents, making the race more than eventful. 

Georgia-born driver Chase Elliott, pilot of the No.9 Chevy Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports, and driver of the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford Mustang, Kevin Harvick, dominated early in the race. Harvick went on to win stage one, while Elliott came in second. 

Atlanta Motor Speedway track president Ed Clark is set to retire after working in NASCAR for 40 years. Clark has worked at the track for the past 25 years and resides in Peachtree City.
Long-time track president retiring after 40 years in NASCAR

It looked as if Elliott would secure the stage two win as his dominance continued but a loose wheel forced him to pit putting Elliott a lap down from the leaders. Brad Keselowski, pilot of the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, was then able to capture the second stage win as he found speed. Although Harvick was close behind finishing second in stage two. 

As the race progressed to stage three, aggression increased leading to a string of cautions and an overtime finish. During which, Keselowski’s Penske teammate, Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang battled for the lead with Keselowski and Harvick. 

Logano ran a solid race maintaining a top-ten position and gained the lead from Keselowski and Harvick late in the race. Taking back the lead at lap 293, Logano was able to fend off his competitors, win the restarts, and claim an overtime victory in Phoenix. 

This was Logano’s second win of the season, leaving him with half of the race wins so far. 

Who to watch this weekend

All three Team Penske drivers will be ones to watch going into Atlanta. 

In addition to Logano, not only has Keselowski shown speed and confidence starting the season, he also brags last year’s win at AMS making him a favorite going into the race. Their teammate Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Ford Mustang, has also shown impressive speed. Blaney competed for the win in the first three races of the season and although an accident early on at Phoenix led to a poor finish, it’s likely Blaney won’t slow down at Atlanta.

Highlights from last year's coverage
Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford, fist bumps one of his crew members after earning the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. During round three of “knockout” qualifying, Almirola overcame placing second and third in the two previous rounds to land himself the top spot.
Friday's finest
Pit crew member of the No. 14 Haas Automation Ford driven by Clint Bowyer tests the wear on the tires during the final practice for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Last paved in 1997, the rough Atlanta track surface takes a toll on tires.
Saturday showstoppers
Georgia native Garrett Smithley, driver of the No. 77 Overkill Motorsports Chevrolet, passes the Atlanta writing in Turn 4. Smithley finished the race at his home track in 36th place and 71 laps behind race winner Brad Keselowski.
Sunday's snapshots
FOX Sports reporter Kaitlyn Vincie holds the microphone while reporting from pit road in 2015. Vincie embodies the idea of starting local and early. She started by uploading YouTube videos that she made at home covering races at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia. The NASCAR fandom allowed for her to gain attention, and she caught the eye of FOX Sports.
Start small, go big

Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers have also had an impressive showing to begin the season. Although they haven’t had the best luck, they have earned a win through Alex Bowman’s, pilot of the No. 88 Chevy Camaro, victory at Fontana. 

In his final season of racing, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevy Camaro, has had a rebound with a top-five and a top-ten finish after a disappointing season last year. 

Elliott has also shown momentum with a couple top finishes and last week’s pole win. And now Elliott is making headlines at Atlanta with his double-duty showing at his home track.

Saturday’s showdown

Elliott, along with Chip Ganassi driver of the No. 42 Chevy Camaro, Kyle Larson, will race in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series VetTixCampingWorld200 for GMS Racing in addition to the Cup race Sunday. 

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Cessna Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, stands in victory lane after the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series Ultimate Tailgating 200. The win marks Busch’s 52nd career Truck Series victory, breaking the tie with four-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.
A league of his own
Christopher Bell, in the No. 20 Rheem Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, won the Rinnai 250 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell led for 142 of 163 laps en route to his first win of the 2019 season.
Paved by the Bell

GMS picked up the drivers after Harvick placed a so-called “bounty” on Cup champion Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry. Harvick claimed he would award any Cup series regular $100,000 if they could find a ride and beat Busch. This bet adds a twist to the NGROTS race providing fans another chance to see their hometown hero race and it gives an opportunity for upcoming truck drivers to prove their worth against cup veterans. 

After the NGROTS battle wraps up, the Xfinity drivers hit the track for the EchoPark250. Saturday features the only same day double-header in the sport offering fans a unique experience to get twice the bang for their buck.  

Last year’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Last year’s Cup race at Atlanta was controlled by Harvick, Logano, Larson, and Joe Gibbs driver of the No. 19 Toyota Camry, Martin Truex Jr. Ironically, none of these driving went on to win the race. 

Keselowski took the lead with just 33 laps to go and held off the pack for the win. Not only did Keselowski fend off the best cars on the track, he did it while fighting an illness all weekend. Truex Jr. placed second and with a solid season so far and a history of success at mile-and-a-half tracks is one to watch again this weekend. Harvick also has a reputation for his success at the track and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him capture another win here. 

This year’s on track action starts Friday with all three NASCAR series hitting the pavement for practice. Then Saturday boasts qualifying for all three series and a double-header featuring the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series VetTixCampingWorld200 at 1:30 p.m. immediately followed by the Xfinity Series EchoPark250.

Sunday’s main event caps off the weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at 2 p.m. Tickets are still available to take in the weekend’s excitement. For event information and to secure your seats, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.