initially appeared on
Similar to that, the is off and operating.
After an exhilarating Daytona 500 end noticed William Byron go within the “Nice American Race,” the Cup Sequence is headed to Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The high-banked oval produces an analogous model of racing as Daytona, however with even sooner speeds on a shorter tracker. Final 12 months, this race produced the long-lasting three-wide photograph end the place the highest three automobiles have been separated by simply 0.007 seconds.
So, what’s in retailer for 2025 within the Peach State? What’s the TV schedule for the weekend? And who might contend for the win on Sunday? Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to know for Ambetter Well being 400:
When is the NASCAR race in Atlanta?
The Ambetter Well being 400 is about for Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. ET.
Earlier than the race, there can be a two-round qualifying session on Saturday. The 39 drivers will take the observe one-by-one (), with the ten quickest drivers advancing to the second spherical. Beginning positions 11 by 39 can be set primarily based on the primary spherical instances, whereas the highest 10 order can be decided with a second lap within the second spherical.
NASCAR TV schedule this weekend
Mike Pleasure (play-by-play), Kevin Harvick (analyst) and Clint Bowyer (analyst) can be on the decision for FOX, however there’s a brand new broadcast accomplice making its debut this weekend. Amazon Prime Video can have the stream for qualifying on Saturday all through the primary half of the season.
Right here’s the total TV and streaming schedule for Atlanta:
Saturday, Feb. 22 (Amazon Prime Video)
Sunday, Feb. 23 (FOX)
NASCAR in Atlanta entry checklist
Thirty-nine drivers will race in Atlanta – the 36 full-timers, plus three others.
Corey LaJoie will pilot the No. 01 for Rick Ware Racing after racing his manner into the sphere (and contending) on the Daytona 500 final week. J.J. Yeley (NY Racing Crew) and B.J. McLeod (Dwell Quick Motorsports) can even compete after failing to qualify for Daytona. Since there are fewer than 40 automobiles entered, all 39 groups will race on Sunday.
Right here’s the total entry checklist for Atlanta:
NASCAR picks, predictions, favorites for Atlanta
It’s arduous to wager towards Crew Penske going into this weekend.
The trio of Logano, Blaney and Cindric led 125 of 201 laps at Daytona final Sunday, and so they’ve all been sturdy at Atlanta in recent times. For the reason that Atlanta repave, they rank first (Logano), third (Cindric) and fifth (Blaney) in complete laps led with 11 top-10 finishes in 18 mixed begins.
Past the Penske Fords, control Hendrick Motorsports. The Chevy duo of Byron and Elliott rank second and fourth, respectively, in laps led at Atlanta since 2022 with three mixed wins in six races. They have been each within the combine at Daytona, with Byron clearly profitable, in order that success ought to translate.
Then there’s the defending race winner Suarez, who usually isn’t mentioned on this part. But when there’s a observe the place we should always embrace him, it’s Atlanta. He has 5 top-10s in Atlanta six begins since 2022, and his final three finishes are second, first and second. His solely end worse than sixth was when he crashed within the March 2023 race.
Another longshots which have efficiency nicely in Atlanta since 2022 embrace Chastain (12.0 common end), Busch (13.0), Haley (13.3) and LaJoie (two top-fives).
NASCAR previous winners, race historical past for Atlanta
Eight of the 39 drivers within the discipline are previous winners in Atlanta, however solely 4 have received because the observe was repaved in 2022.
Byron and Logano have two wins every since 2022, becoming a member of Elliott (2022) and Suarez (2024) as the latest Atlanta winners. Earlier than the observe was repaved with larger banking, Keselowski (2017, 2019), Busch (2008, 2013), Hamlin (2012) and Blaney (2021) scored wins.
