Race Details
- Flag drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM PT).
- Venue: EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway), 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, Georgia 30228.
- TV/Streaming: The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
This is the second race of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, a 163-lap, 251.02-mile event on the 1.54-mile quad-oval superspeedway-style track. It’s part of a doubleheader weekend with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fr8 208 earlier that day. The race features superspeedway rules, emphasizing pack racing and drafting, similar to Daytona or Talladega but with Atlanta’s unique high banking and narrower straights, leading to high-speed chaos and frequent wrecks. Qualifying is scheduled for Friday, February 20, at 5:00 PM ET.
Weather Conditions
Expected conditions in Hampton, GA: Partly cloudy with highs around 59-64°F and lows in the mid-50s. Winds from the northeast at 7-10 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph. Humidity around 89%, and a 40-50% chance of scattered showers (0.01-0.02 inches possible), potentially leading to damp or slick conditions if rain hits during the race. No severe weather anticipated, but monitor for updates as light precipitation could affect tire choices and grip on the asphalt.
Overall, mild winter weather typical for Georgia in late February, favoring a full green-flag run if dry.
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).
- Straights: Frontstretch: 2,332 feet, banked at 5 degrees; Backstretch: 1,800 feet, banked at 5 degrees.
- Racing Surface Width: Varies—52 feet on the frontstretch, 42 feet on the backstretch, and 40 feet in the turns (narrowed in 2021 to intensify drafting and side-by-side action).
- Other Features: The track includes a “dogleg” on the frontstretch, adding complexity to restarts and passing. Pit road is 1,800 feet long. Since the 2021 repave and reprofile, Atlanta races like a mini-Talladega with high speeds (average lap ~29-30 seconds) and frequent multi-car incidents due to the steep banking and restrictor-plate-style rules. No pronounced biases this season, but fuel strategy and tire management are key on the abrasive surface.
The reconfiguration has led to average speeds over 180 mph in drafts, with wrecks in 75% of recent races here, emphasizing survival over pure speed.
Driver Matchups to Watch
- Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) vs. Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing): Teammates and favorites; Hill, the defending winner with three straight Atlanta Xfinity victories (including sweeps in 2023-2024), excels in pack racing (average finish 2.5 at Atlanta). Love, a rookie sensation, led 157 laps in last year’s race but faded—expect drafting synergy but potential intra-team rivalry for the win.
nascar.com +2
- Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) vs. Sam Mayer (JR Motorsports): Allgaier, a veteran with strong Atlanta history (average finish 8.2), pairs with Mayer’s speed (2024 runner-up). JR Motorsports has six Atlanta wins; watch for their Chevrolets in the draft against RCR dominance.
- Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) vs. Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing): Young guns; Kvapil impressed at Daytona (P3), while Gray’s Toyota speed could challenge in packs. Gibbs has four Atlanta wins, adding edge.
- Rookie Battle: Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing) vs. Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports): Sanchez’s 2025 Atlanta win shows promise; Zilisch, a prodigy, could surprise with raw talent in his full-time debut.
These matchups highlight Chevrolet’s edge (25 Atlanta Xfinity wins overall), with drafting alliances key to avoiding “The Big One.”
Recent Driver Forms
Coming off the season-opening United Rentals 300 at Daytona (February 14-15, 2026), where Austin Hill dominated for his fourth straight opener win, the standings reflect early momentum. Here’s a top-10 snapshot with recent forms (last race: Daytona finishes and key notes):
Top 10 Standings After Daytona:
| Rank | Driver | Points | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Recent Form Notes |
| 1 | Austin Hill | 75 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Won Daytona (led 38 laps, survived wrecks); 4 straight opener wins; Atlanta master (3 wins). |
| 2 | Justin Allgaier | 50 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P2 at Daytona (strong draft); Consistent veteran (47 career top-5s). |
| 3 | Carson Kvapil | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P3 Daytona debut; Rising star with JR Motorsports speed. |
| 4 | Jesse Love | 37 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P4 Daytona; Led laps but fuel issues; Atlanta near-win in 2025. |
| 5 | Sammy Smith | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | P5 Daytona; Solid but needs pack-racing polish. |
| 6 | Blaine Perkins | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P6 Daytona surprise; Underdog with momentum. |
| 7 | Ryan Sieg | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P7 Daytona; Veteran drafter, Atlanta average finish 12.5. |
| 8 | Rajah Caruth | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P8 Daytona; Young talent, watch for growth. |
| 9 | Jordan Anderson | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P9 Daytona; Owner-driver, consistent underdog. |
| 10 | Ryan Ellis | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P10 Daytona; Reliable mid-packer. |
Daytona wrecks shuffled forms, but Atlanta’s similar style favors superspeedway specialists like Hill and Allgaier.
Race History
Atlanta has hosted Xfinity races since 1992 (34 events). Key stats:
- Most Wins (Driver): Kevin Harvick (5), followed by Kyle Busch (3), Austin Hill (3 recent).
- Most Wins (Team): Roush Fenway Racing (7), Richard Childress Racing (6), JR Motorsports (5), Joe Gibbs Racing (4).
- Recent Winners: 2025 – Nick Sanchez; 2024 – Austin Hill (sweep); 2023 – Austin Hill (sweep); 2022 – Ty Gibbs; 2021 – Justin Allgaier; 2020 – AJ Allmendinger; 2019 – Christopher Bell; 2018 – Kevin Harvick.
- Trends: Since 2021 reconfiguration, average winners started 5th; 75% involved wrecks; Chevrolets won 25 overall Atlanta Xfinity races.
The race often features overtime finishes (60% since 2021).
Betting Trends
- Trends: Favorites win 32% at Atlanta Xfinity; Hill has hit in 100% of recent bets here. Overs on total wrecks (over 4.5 -110) common (hit 80% post-reconfig). Top-5 props: Allgaier +200 (value); Sieg +3500 (underdog sleeper). Chevrolet manufacturer -150 (75% win rate recently).
Driver Odds
Austin Hill + 225
Jesse Love + 285
Justin Allgaier + 900
Carson Kvapil + 1400
Sheldon Creed + 1400
Sammy Smith + 1400
Sam Mayer + 1400
Taylor Gray + 1800
Ross Chastain + 1800
Rajah Caruth + 2200
Brandon Jones + 2800
Giovanni Ruggiero + 3000
Ryan Sieg + 3000
William Sawalich + 3500
Nicholas Sanchez + 4500
Jeb Burton + 5500
Harrison Burton + 6000
Corey Day + 6000
Anthony Alfredo + 7000
Dean Thompson + 9000
Parker Retzlaff + 9000
Jeremy Clements + 10000
Cody Ware + 10000
Brennan Poole + 10000
Blaine Perkins + 10000
Ryan Ellis + 10000
Patrick Staropoli + 10000
Lavar Scott + 10000
Kyle Sieg + 10000
Luke Fenhaus + 13000
Josh Williams + 20000
Josh Bilicki + 20000
Austin Green + 20000
Joey Gase + 30000
Garrett Smithley + 30000
Nick Leitz + 30000
Mason Maggio + 30000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 20, 2026
