After a thrilling Daytona 500, it’s time for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to begin the true regular season.
First up: Atlanta Motor Speedway.
NASCAR release the preliminary entry list for the Feb. 28 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta on Tuesday (Feb. 23). The list includes 39 teams, meaning everyone will make Sunday’s race.
Highlighting the entry list is Ty Dillon in Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 14. As announced earlier today, Dillon will serve as a replacement driver for the injured Tony Stewart in three of the next four events. In an interesting twist, by replacing Stewart, Dillon will continue to follow in older brother Austin Dillon’s footsteps. Austin briefly replaced Stewart in the No. 14 in 2013.
With Dillon stepping over to the No. 14, Michael McDowell will return to the No. 95 for Circle Sport-Leaving Family Racing. Mcdowell drove the No. 59 Chevrolet in a rare two-car operation for the team in the Daytona 500.
Joining the 36 charter teams for week two will be Ryan Blaney, Josh Wise and Cole Whitt. The three drivers, two of which failed to qualify for the Daytona 500, will find reprieve in the fact that without additional entries they’re guaranteed to qualify for Sunday’s show.
Sunday’s race will serve as the first test for the newly-implemented low-downforce rules package.
The Sprint Cup Series will return to action at the 1.5-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, Feb. 26, for practice and Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 5:45 p.m. ET. The field will then return on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET for final practice. Coverage for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 will begin at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
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