Race Details
- Flag drop is scheduled for 1:30 PM ET (12:30 PM CT / 10:30 AM PT).
- Venue: EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway), 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, Georgia 30228.
- TV/Streaming: FS1, NASCAR Racing Network (NRN), SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
This is the second race of the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season, a 135-lap, 207.9-mile event on the 1.54-mile quad-oval superspeedway. It’s part of a doubleheader weekend with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 later that evening. The race uses superspeedway rules with restrictor plates, promoting pack racing, drafting, and high attrition rates similar to Daytona or Talladega, but Atlanta’s unique banking and narrower configuration amplifies chaos and strategic fuel/pit decisions. Qualifying is set for Friday, February 20, at 3:00 PM ET.
Weather Conditions
Expected conditions in Hampton, GA: Overcast to partly cloudy with highs around 59-64°F and lows in the mid-50s. Winds from the northeast at 6-10 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph. Humidity around 89%, and a 30-40% chance of scattered showers (0.01-0.02 inches possible), which could create slick spots on the asphalt if rain interrupts. No severe weather is forecast, but monitor for delays if precipitation persists. Mild winter temps should favor consistent tire wear, but wind could affect aerodynamics in drafts, potentially impacting lighter trucks or high-line runners.
Overall, raceable conditions if dry, but a damp track might shift strategies toward caution-heavy racing.
Track Layout and Characteristics
- Track Length and Type: 1.54-mile (2.48 km) asphalt quad-oval intermediate superspeedway.
- Turns: Four turns, each banked at 28 degrees (up from 24 degrees post-2021 reconfiguration to enhance pack racing).
- Straights: Frontstretch: 2,332 feet, banked at 5 degrees; Backstretch: 1,800 feet, banked at 5 degrees.
- Racing Surface Width: 52 feet on the frontstretch, 42 feet on the backstretch, and 40 feet in the turns (narrowed in 2021 to intensify side-by-side action and drafting).
- Other Features: Includes a “dogleg” kink on the frontstretch for added passing opportunities and chaos on restarts. Pit road is 1,800 feet long with a 55 mph caution speed. Since the 2021 repave and reprofile, Atlanta mimics Talladega with average lap speeds of 29-30 seconds and top-end speeds over 180 mph in drafts. The abrasive surface demands tire management, with fuel strategy often deciding winners amid frequent multi-truck incidents (average 5-6 cautions per race). No strong biases early in 2026, but the high banking favors Chevrolets in packs (75% win rate post-reconfig).
The narrower layout leads to wrecks in 80% of recent Truck races here, emphasizing survival and alliance-building.
Driver Matchups to Watch
- Kyle Busch (Spire Motorsports) vs. Corey Heim (TRICON Garage): Busch, a six-time Atlanta Truck winner (most all-time), returns for his first of eight 2026 starts in the #7 Chevrolet. His pack-racing prowess (average finish 1.8 at Atlanta) clashes with defending champion Heim (#1 Toyota), who dominated 2025 with eight wins but struggled at superspeedways (average 15.2 finish). Expect drafting battles; Busch’s experience could edge Heim’s consistency.
- Chandler Smith (Front Row Motorsports) vs. Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing): Smith (#38 Ford), fresh off a Daytona win, seeks redemption after a 2025 Atlanta DNF; his superspeedway form (P1 at Daytona) vs. Majeski (#88 Ford), the 2024 runner-up here and Daytona P4. ThorSport’s Fords have speed; watch for manufacturer alliances.
- Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) vs. Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports): Eckes (#91 Chevrolet), Daytona P3, boasts strong Atlanta history (average 6.5 finish); Enfinger, a veteran drafter, could upset with CR7’s equipment. Key for playoff bubble spots.
- Rookie Battle: Gio Ruggiero (TRICON Garage) vs. Brenden Queen (Young’s Motorsports): Ruggiero (#17 Toyota), Daytona P2, shows raw talent; Queen (#12), P7 at Daytona, brings underdog grit. TRICON’s Toyotas vs. independent speed.
These matchups underscore Chevrolet’s historical edge (six Atlanta Truck wins), with drafting partners crucial to avoiding incidents.
Recent Driver Forms
Following the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona (February 13, 2026), where Chandler Smith led eight laps to win in overtime, standings reflect superspeedway volatility. Here’s a top-10 snapshot with recent forms (Daytona finishes and notes):
Top 10 Standings After Daytona:
| Rank | Driver | Points | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Recent Form Notes |
| 1 | Chandler Smith | 65 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Won Daytona (led 8 laps, survived OT chaos); Strong pack racer, 2025 Atlanta DNF but prior top-10s. |
| 2 | Christian Eckes | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P3 at Daytona (led 1 lap); Defending champ with 8 2025 wins; Atlanta average finish 6.5. |
| 3 | Ty Majeski | 45 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P4 at Daytona (led 5 laps); 2024 Atlanta P2; Consistent in drafts. |
| 4 | Gio Ruggiero | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P2 at Daytona rookie debut; Raw speed, watch for growth at Atlanta. |
| 5 | Kaden Honeycutt | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P6 at Daytona; Underrated drafter, potential sleeper. |
| 6 | Brenden Queen | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P7 at Daytona rookie; Solid start, independent team grit. |
| 7 | Nick Leitz | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P8 at Daytona; Reliable mid-packer. |
| 8 | Ben Rhodes | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P9 at Daytona; Veteran, Atlanta specialist (average 9.2 finish). |
| 9 | Tyler Ankrum | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P10 at Daytona; Momentum from 2025 highlights. |
| 10 | Stewart Friesen | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P11 at Daytona; Tough luck but strong superspeedway history. nascar.com +5 |
Daytona’s wrecks (multiple incidents) boosted survivors like Smith and Eckes; Atlanta’s similar style favors these forms.
Race History
Atlanta has hosted Truck Series races since 2004 (18 events through 2025). Key stats:
- Most Wins (Driver): Kyle Busch (6, most all-time), Ron Hornaday Jr. (4), Matt Crafton (3).
- Most Wins (Team): Kyle Busch Motorsports (8), ThorSport Racing (4), McAnally-Hilgemann (3).
- Recent Winners: 2025 – Nick Sanchez; 2024 – Kyle Busch; 2023 – Christian Eckes; 2022 – Corey Heim; 2021 – Grant Enfinger; 2020 – John Hunter Nemechek; 2019 – Kyle Busch; 2018 – Brett Moffitt.
- Trends: Since 2021 reconfiguration, average winners started 8th; 80% featured overtime; Chevrolets won 4 of last 5. Average cautions: 7-8 per race, with “Big One” in 75%.
The event, sponsored by Fr8 Auctions since 2021, often sees veterans like Busch dominate.
Betting Trends
- Trends: Favorites win 35% at Atlanta Truck races; Busch has cashed in 83% of his starts here. Overs on wrecks (over 4.5 -120) hit 80% post-reconfig. Top-3 props: Enfinger +120 (value); Caruth +260 (sleeper). Chevrolet manufacturer -150 (4 of last 5 wins). Public heavy on Busch (65% bets), but sharps on Majeski (+900) and Eckes for top-5 (+200).
DRIVER ODDS
Kyle Busch + 265
Carson Hocevar + 450
Corey Heim + 550
Kaden Honeycutt + 900
Christian Eckes + 1000
Justin Haley + 1200
John Hunter Nemechek + 1500
Chandler Smith + 1600
Ty Majeski + 1800
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 1800
Layne Riggs + 1800
Grant Enfinger + 1800
Tyler Ankrum + 2200
Giovanni Ruggiero + 2500
Ty Dillon + 4000
Daniel Hemric + 4000
Ben Rhodes + 4000
Tanner Gray + 5000
Jake Garcia + 5500
Stewart Friesen + 6000
Daniel Dye + 7500
Brenden Queen + 9000
Dawson Sutton + 11000
Cole Butcher + 11000
Andres Perez de Lara Gonzalez + 11000
Kris Wright + 15000
Timothy Tyrrell + 25000
Adam Andretti + 25000
Spencer Boyd + 30000
Justin Carroll + 30000
Josh Reaume + 30000
Frankie Muniz + 30000
Clayton Green + 30000
Tyler Tomassi + 30000
Tyler Reif + 30000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 20, 2026
