The NASCAR Cup Series season returns to the southeast this weekend for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season began as usual in the southeast with the Daytona 500. The series then headed west for three races. Now the drivers and teams are headed back to the southeast for the next race.

Each week of the season the drivers have had to adjust to the new seventh version of the Next Hen car on tracks that have gotten smaller week to week. This week the track size increases from last week for the first time this season. The drivers will race on a mile-and-half track for the second time this year.

Below is the data for both the track and race that the drivers and teams will be dealing with this week.

Atlanta Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.54-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 28 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch & Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,332 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,800 feet

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Data
Season Race #: 5 of 36 (03-20-22)
Race Length: 325 laps / 500.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2: 105 Laps (each)
Final Stage: 115 Laps

Here are the top 10 best active drivers in overall driver rating at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kevin Harvick – 100.5
Kyle Larson – 97.6
Kurt Busch – 97.5
Martin Truex Jr. – 96.9
Kyle Busch – 96.2
Denny Hamlin – 95.7
Brad Keselowski – 94.5
Ryan Blaney – 92.3
Chase Elliott – 90.0
Greg Biffle – 88.1
* Based on last 24 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2005 – Present)

These are the active drivers that have won a NASCAR Cup Series race during their careers at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kurt Busch – 4 Wins (2021, 2010, 2009, 2002)
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins (2020, 2018, 2001)
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins (2019, 2017)
Kyle Busch – 2 Wins (2013, 2008)
Ryan Blaney – 1 Win (2021)
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win (2012)

So far this year all four drivers that have won a race are under the age of 30. The question is, will this trend continue this week? Or, will a more seasoned driver find victory lane?

Those questions will be answered when the green flag waives to start the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sunday, March 20th at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. eastern time) at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

By: Buck Stevens