With a Daytona International Speedway weekend that nearly lasted into Tuesday night (Feb. 19) behind us, it’s time for a calm weekend ahead, right?
Just kidding! More pack racing will be on display in all three series as the tour heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway. It is the first time since 2019 that Atlanta has hosted the second race of the regular season.
The new-look 1.5-mile track has produced some absolute thrillers since the new layout debuted in 2022, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. saying on the NBC Sports broadcast last season that it is the top race to which he would send fans.
This weekend should spice things up in the South, and several dignitaries will ring it in.
National Anthem: Mary Kate Farmer will sing the national anthem prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race. Farmer is a two-time Georgia County Female Artist of the Year winner.
Grand Marshal: Performance Racing Network president and lead announcer Doug Rice will command the drivers to fire their engines for the Ambetter Health 400. Rice has become a renowned voice in motorsports, and he will wrap up a 36-year career after the 2024 season. Rice is a three-time NMPA Broadcaster of the Year.
Honorary Starter: Eric Izquierdo will wave the green flag over the field for the Cup race. Izquierdo is the CEO and president of InTouch Financial Group.
Pre-Race Concert: Jon Langston will entertain fans with his brand of country music prior to the Ambetter Health 400.
Flyover: Two F-22s from Langley Air Force Base’s 1st Fighter Wing will fly over the AMS during the national anthem for the Cup race.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.