Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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NASCAR’s Cup Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend for the second race of the season, the Autotrader 400. The 1.5-mile track has become one of the most unpredictable and high-speed events on the schedule since its reconfiguration in 2022, with frequent caution flags and last-lap passes for the win.

Why it matters

The Atlanta race takes on added importance this year as the series has implemented a new points system that will determine the championship based on the top 16 drivers over the final 10 races. Several top drivers had poor finishes at the season-opening Daytona 500, leaving them outside the current top 16 in points and needing a strong run at Atlanta to get back in contention.

The details

Since the Atlanta track was reconfigured prior to the 2022 season, the racing has featured big drafting packs, frequent caution flags, and dramatic finishes. In the seven races since the changes, the pass for the win has come in the final two laps six times, including four times on the final lap. The high-speed, close-quarters racing has also resulted in large multi-car crashes, with at least 16 cars involved in a single incident in each of the past eight Atlanta races.

The Autotrader 400 is scheduled for Sunday, February 19, 2026.Atlanta Motor Speedway was reconfigured prior to the 2022 season.
The players

Kyle Busch

Won the pole for the 2026 Daytona 500 with a speed of 183.651 mph.

Ryan Blaney

Won the pole for the 2025 Atlanta race with a speed of 179.371 mph.

Connor Zilisch

Commented on the close-quarters, high-speed racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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What they’re saying

“You’re on the edge of being flat-out the entire time. It’s very, very close quarters racing, and everyone is in a pack. Anything can happen at any time, and we saw that last year (11 caution flags resulted in 63 caution laps of the February race’s total of 266).”

— Connor Zilisch

What’s next

The series’ championship battle will come down to the top 16 drivers over the final 10 races of the season, so the results at Atlanta will be crucial for drivers looking to secure their spot in the playoffs.

The takeaway

The reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway has become one of the most unpredictable and exciting races on the NASCAR calendar, with high speeds, close-quarters drafting, and dramatic finishes that can shake up the early-season points standings and playoff picture.