This week the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Ambetter Health 400. This track provides some unique challenges since the re-design between the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Last year was the first year the drivers experienced the higher banking on the mile-and-a-half track. The re-design turned the track into what many describe as a “mini-superspeedway.” The track races much like Daytona and Talladega, however it is a mile shorter than those tracks. That definitely leads to some unique situations that the drivers and teams have to prepare for and deal with.
Here is the data for the track and the race this weekend.
Atlanta Motor Speedway Track 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
Ambetter Health 400 Race Data
Season Race #: 5 of 36 (03-19-23)
Race Length: 325 laps / 500.5 miles
Stage 1 Length: 60 Laps
Stage 2 Length: 100 Laps
Final Stage Length: 100 Laps
There are seven active drivers that have won a Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
| Kevin Harvick | 3 Wins | 2020, 2018, 2001 |
| Brad Keselowski | 2 Wins | 2019, 2017 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 Wins | 2013, 2008 |
| William Byron | 1 Win | 2022 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 Win | 2022 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1 Win | 2021 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 Win | 2012 |
Chase Elliott is the last Cup Series driver to have won a race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, since he is still sidelined by a leg injury sustained while snow boarding, he won’t be making it back-to-back wins at his home state track.
William Byron has won the last two Cup Series races in a row in the 2023 season. He is the only other driver that has won a race on the re-designed version of Atlanta Motor Speedway. That win came in this race last year. Could it be a three-in-a-row weekend for Chase?
Kevin Harvick has the most wins among active drivers at Atlanta. He was cruising to a victory last week in Phoenix when a late race caution changed the outcome. Perhaps he will be able to make up for that by scoring his fourth win at Atlanta.
Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin would all love to add to the win totals at Atlanta. The rest of the field would love to get their first win at the track.
Who will it be celebrating at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend? We will find out starting at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. eastern time) Sunday, March 19th in the Ambetter Health 400.
By: Buck Stevens
