Race Details
- Flag Drop is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM PT).
- Venue: EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway), 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, Georgia 30228.
- TV/Streaming: Fox, Fox Sports App, NRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
This is the second race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, a 260-lap, 400.4-mile event on the 1.54-mile quad-oval superspeedway. It’s the spring Atlanta race, sponsored by Autotrader since 2021, and part of a tripleheader weekend including the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Saturday evening) and Craftsman Truck Series (Saturday afternoon). The race features superspeedway rules with restrictor plates, emphasizing pack racing, drafting, and high attrition. Qualifying is Saturday, February 21, at 11:30 AM ET. Entry list includes 38 drivers, with notables like Ross Chastain (#1 Chevrolet), Austin Cindric (#2 Ford), Austin Dillon (#3 Chevrolet), and defending series champion Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota).
Weather Conditions
Expected conditions in Hampton, GA: Partly cloudy to overcast with highs around 55-62°F and lows in the upper 40s. Winds from the northwest at 17-18 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Humidity around 35-66%, and a low 10-20% chance of scattered showers (less than 0.01 inches). No severe weather forecast, but the wind could affect aerodynamics in drafts, potentially making passing trickier on the high banks. Mild winter temps should allow for consistent tire wear, but monitor for any track drying if morning moisture persists. Overall, raceable conditions favoring a full green-flag run.
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 (increased from 24 degrees in the 2021 reconfiguration to promote pack racing and side-by-side action).
- 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 drafting and chaos).
- Other Features: Includes a “dogleg” kink on the frontstretch for added passing opportunities, especially on restarts. Pit road is 1,800 feet long with a 55 mph caution speed. Since the 2021 repave and reprofile, Atlanta races like a mini-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 pivotal amid frequent multi-car incidents (average 6-8 cautions per race). No strong biases early in 2026, but the high banking favors Chevrolets and Fords in packs (Chevrolets won 4 of last 6 Atlanta Cup races).
The narrower layout leads to wrecks in 75% of recent Cup races here, emphasizing survival, alliances, and late-race strategy.
Key Driver Matchups to Watch
- Joey Logano (Team Penske) vs. Ryan Blaney (Team Penske): Teammates and co-favorites; Logano, a two-time Atlanta winner post-reconfig (2022, 2023), excels in drafts (average finish 5.2). Blaney, with a 101.6 driver rating here since 2023, led 90 laps in recent races. Watch for Penske synergy but potential intra-team rivalry in the closing laps.
- Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) vs. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports): Elliott, a 2022 Atlanta winner, has multiple top-5s here; his Hendrick Chevrolet speed (two wins post-reconfig) vs. Byron’s consistency (multiple winner at Atlanta). Hendrick has dominated (4 Atlanta wins since 2021); expect drafting alliances.
- Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) vs. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing): Larson (+1200) brings raw speed (Daytona P2); Hamlin, defending champion, seeks redemption after Daytona wreck. JGR Toyotas vs. Hendrick Chevys in packs.
- Longshot Battle: Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) vs. Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing): Reddick (+1600), Daytona winner, vs. Briscoe (+1800); both strong in superspeedways, potential for upsets.
These matchups highlight Chevrolet’s edge (4 of last 6 Atlanta Cup wins), with drafting partners crucial.
Recent Driver Forms
Following the Daytona 500 (February 15, 2026), where Tyler Reddick won in overtime, standings reflect early 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 | Tyler Reddick | 70 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Won Daytona (led 12 laps, OT survivor); Superspeedway ace. |
| 2 | Chase Elliott | 48 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P2 at Daytona (strong draft); Atlanta specialist. |
| 3 | William Byron | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P3 at Daytona; Multiple Atlanta wins. |
| 4 | Denny Hamlin | 37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P4 at Daytona; Defending champ, wreck avoider. |
| 5 | Joey Logano | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P5 at Daytona; Atlanta dominator. |
| 6 | Ryan Blaney | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P6 at Daytona; Penske speed. |
| 7 | Austin Cindric | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P7 at Daytona; Upset potential. |
| 8 | Bubba Wallace | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P8 at Daytona; Drafting pro. |
| 9 | Kyle Larson | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P9 at Daytona; Hendrick power. |
| 10 | Christopher Bell | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P11 at Daytona; JGR contender. |
Daytona’s wrecks boosted survivors like Reddick and Elliott; Atlanta’s similar style favors these forms.
Race History
Atlanta has hosted Cup Series races since 1960 (120 events through 2025). Key stats for the spring race (Autotrader 400 since 2021):
- Most Wins (Driver): Dale Earnhardt (9 overall at Atlanta), Cale Yarborough (7); recent: William Byron (2 post-reconfig).
- Most Wins (Team): Hendrick Motorsports (15 overall), Team Penske (5 recent).
- Recent Winners: 2025 – Tyler Reddick; 2024 – Daniel Suarez; 2023 – Joey Logano; 2022 – William Byron; 2021 – Ryan Blaney; 2020 – Kevin Harvick; 2019 – Brad Keselowski.
- Trends: Since 2021 reconfiguration, average winners started 5th; 80% featured overtime; Chevrolets won 3 of last 5. Average cautions: 8-10 per race, with “Big One” in 70%. The event often sees fuel-mileage plays and late wrecks deciding outcomes.
Betting Trends
- Trends: Favorites win 30% at Atlanta Cup races post-reconfig; longshots like Suarez (2024 at +4000) hit 40%. Overs on wrecks (over 4.5 -120) common (80% hit). Top-10 props: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +230 (value); Austin Cindric +1400 outright. Chevrolet manufacturer -150 (3 of last 5 wins). Public heavy on Logano/Blaney (60% bets), sharps on Elliott (+1000) and Reddick for top-5 (+200). High variance due to packs favors exotics like trifectas.
DRIVER ODDS
Ryan Blaney + 800
Joey Logano + 800
Chase Elliott + 800
Carson Hocevar + 900
Kyle Larson + 1000
William Byron + 1400
Denny Hamlin + 1400
Christopher Bell + 1400
Brad Keselowski + 1400
Kyle Busch + 1600
Austin Cindric + 1700
Tyler Reddick + 2200
Chris Buescher + 2200
Ross Chastain + 2500
Chase Briscoe + 2800
Bubba Wallace + 2800
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 3500
Josh Berry + 3500
Alex Bowman + 3500
Ryan Preece + 4000
Daniel Suarez + 4000
Ty Gibbs + 4500
Connor Zilisch + 5000
Zane Smith + 6000
Michael McDowell + 6000
Erik Jones + 6500
Austin Dillon + 6500
Shane Van Gisbergen + 7000
John Hunter Nemechek + 7000
Todd Gilliland + 8000
Cole Custer + 9000
Noah Gragson + 10000
AJ Allmendinger + 10000
Riley Herbst + 13000
Ty Dillon + 20000
Cody Ware + 20000
JJ Yeley + 25000
BJ McLeod + 25000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 21, 2025
