NASCAR Heading to Atlanta for Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
HAMPTON, GA – FEBRUARY 25: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Almond Toyota, and Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Liberty National Chevrolet, take the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

The NASCAR drivers and teams are heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway this week for the Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season started last weekend with the 2019 Daytona 500. We saw that the changes in car packages, rules and other driver/crew chief shuffling looks to provide a competitive season for race fans. We also saw that these changes might also provide some frustration for drivers and teams with high possibilities of accidents on the track.

The Atlanta Motor Speedway is almost a full mile shorter than Daytona. However, the challenge of the track could have similar results if cars are not set up with good handling. We will have to wait and see how things unfold this weekend when the green flag waives.

Here is a look at some of the stats for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup series race that could show who to watch for the win.

Atlanta Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 2 of 36 (02-25-18)
Track Size: 1.54-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 24 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,332 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,800 feet

Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 Data
Race Length
: 325 laps / 500.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2: 85 Laps (each)
Final Stage: 155 Laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Atlanta
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 102.8
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 99.4
Chase Elliott…………………………. 96.4
Kurt Busch…………………………… 96.1
Brad Keselowski……………………. 95.5
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 94.3
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 93.5
Kyle Busch…………………………… 92.7
Kyle Larson………………………….. 84.8
Joey Logano…………………………. 82.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (20 total) among active drivers at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Active Drivers with Wins at Atlanta
Jimmie Johnson – 5 wins
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Kyle Busch – 2 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins (2018 Race Winner)
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win
Brad Keselowski – 1 Win

The 2019 Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 starts at 1:00 PM central time (2:00 PM eastern time) Sunday, February 24th from Atlanta Motor Speedway.

By: Buck Stevens