Race Weekend Central

Dropping the Hammer: Atlanta’s NASCAR Future Is Here. Survey Says…?

Atlanta Motor Speedway

(Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

After a full reconfiguration of Atlanta Motor Speedway produced racing SMI CEO Marcus Smith called “sports entertainment,” did the powers that be get this right?

The Underdog House: Trackhouse Racing Has Arrived

Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing Team takes a minute to reflect at the L.A. Clash at the Coliseum. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: NKP)

Top Dog: Ross Chastain For nearly the past month, Ross Chastain has been the definition of bittersweet. He is enjoying the best run of his NASCAR Cup Series career thus far, leading laps and competing for wins. The last two weeks at Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he finished second and third. He …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2022 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta

2022-Atlanta-I-Cup-ryan-blaney-denny-hamlin-racing-NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? HAMPTON, Ga. – William Byron won his third career NASCAR Cup Series race in a late-race skirmish at a newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ross Chastain, Kurt Busch, Daniel Suarez and Corey Lajoie, who earned his first career top-five result, completed the first five positions. How did it happen? With around 10 laps to …

Read more

Up to Speed: Reserve Judgement on the New Atlanta Motor Speedway

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: NKP)

Nobody knew for sure what to expect at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Since its last race weekend in July 2021, the track was repaved and reconfigured, most notably with narrower, slightly steeper turns. The intended effect was to create a new style of racing at Atlanta, something that would resemble superspeedway racing more closely than the …

Read more

Trackhouse Keeps Digging, Rallies to 2 Top-5 Finishes

Daniel Suarez Ross Chastain talking, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

HAMPTON, Ga. – At the end of a wild and crazy afternoon on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s new racing surface in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Trackhouse Racing Team’s strong start to the season continued with both Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain in the top five.   Chastain recorded his second runner-up finish in a …

Read more

William Byron Survives to Win Chaotic Atlanta Race

2022 Atlanta I Cup William Byron burnout NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

William Byron piloted his No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet to the win in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 20) after having a fast car all day long. “It was so different. Honestly, the last few laps there just trying to manage the gap to Bubba [Wallace] and …

Read more

Dropping the Hammer: Chase Briscoe’s Surprising First Cup Win (or Was It?)

Chase Briscoe crosses the finish line at Phoenix Raceway, March 2022.

(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

With 20 laps left in Sunday’s (March 13) NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway, the final challengers for the race win came into focus: Somehow, it came down to three drivers under the age of 30 who hadn’t won on the Cup circuit yet. Looking at the makeup of the Cup Series in 2022, the …

Read more

Up to Speed: Chase Briscoe & the 1st-Time Winners at Phoenix

Briscoe

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

First-time Cup Series winners are becoming a common sight in 2022. After Austin Cindric’s victory in the Daytona 500 last month, Chase Briscoe became the second driver to earn his first victory just four races into the season. Briscoe had to hold off challenges from Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick over the final 20 laps, …

Read more