The NASCAR Cup Series is racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the last time in its current configuration Sunday in the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart.
When this weekend’s racing is complete, the track will be repaved for the first time since 1996. In addition to the repaving, the track will increase the banking to 28 degrees and narrow the racing surface. The front stretch will be cut to 52 feet, the back stretch to 42 feet and the turns 40 feet.
Here’s what the drivers will be facing for this weekend’s race as the track data remains for one last race.
Atlanta Motor Speedway Data
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
Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart Data
Season Race #: 21 of 36 (07-11-21)
Race Length: 260 laps / 400.4 miles
Stage 1 & 2: 80 Laps (each)
Final Stage: 100 Laps
Here are the top active drivers in overall performance during their Cup Series careers as the track is currently configured.
Top 12 Driver Ratings at Atlanta
Kevin Harvick……………………… 101.4
Kyle Larson………………………….. 98.0
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 96.7
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 95.6
Kurt Busch…………………………… 95.4
Kyle Busch…………………………… 94.6
Brad Keselowski……………………. 94.4
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 91.0
Chase Elliott…………………………. 89.9
Joey Logano………………………… 83.3
Ryan Newman………………………. 78.0
Ricky Stenhouse Jr………………… 77.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2021 races (23 total) among active drivers at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The active drivers with Atlanta wins on their Cup Series resume are listed below.
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins
Kyle Busch – 2 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win
Ryan Blaney – 1 Win
Kyle Larson dominated the spring race at Atlanta earlier this year. However, Ryan Blaney was the driver that won the race in final laps of the race. In more recent weeks Kyle has been able to move himself to the top of the list of favorites to win the Championship. You know Kyle will want to do everything he can to get the win he let slip away earlier this year.
Chase Elliott won his second race of the 2021 season last weekend at Road America. He now gets to race at his home track. There has only ever been one NASCAR driver from Georgia that has won at Atlanta Motor Speedway. That driver is Bill Elliott, Chase’s dad. You know Chase wants to match his father’s accomplishment and win in front of the hometown crowd.
Counting this weekend there are just six races remaining before the post-season begins. That means there are drivers trying to pad their start in the Playoffs. There are drivers trying to make the Playoffs.
With all the different goals for the weekend, it could turn out to be a very eventful final race on the current configuration of the track.
We will all get to see what happens starting at 2:30 p.m. central time (3:30 p.m. eastern time) in the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
