NASCAR is set to face yet another weekend of superspeedway-style racing as all three national touring series will head south to the suburbs of Atlanta to take on the 1.54-mile oval of EchoPark Speedway.<\/p>\n
The tripleheader weekend will kick-off with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) on Saturday afternoon, where the event\u2019s defending winner, Kyle Busch, will return to the seat of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to make his first NCTS appearance of the season. The NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) will then take its turn later that evening as Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Austin Hill looks to continue to stack onto his already impressive superspeedway stats with back-to-back victories to open the 2026 season. Rounding out the weekend on Sunday is the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), with hometown hero, Chase Elliott, looking for redemption after a heartbreaking end to his pursuit for his first Harley J. Earl trophy last week at Daytona.<\/p>\n
Entering its fifth season of competition on the track\u2019s reconfigured surface, Chevrolet continues to be the only manufacturer to find victory lane in all three national divisions \u2013 entering the weekend with five NCS wins, six NOAPS wins and three NCTS wins.
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Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at EchoPark Speedway:<\/p>\n
The 2022 NASCAR season saw a new evolution of racing at EchoPark Speedway with a complete reprofiling that saw the 1.54-mile venue produce superspeedway-style racing. The Bowtie brand quickly made a statement with the pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates, William Byron and Chase Elliott, driving Chevrolet to a sweep of the track\u2019s two dates that season. Now, with four seasons complete on the configuration, Chevrolet has paid at least one visit to victory lane at EchoPark Speedway each year \u2013 most recently by Georgia native, Elliott, in the series\u2019 most recent appearance at the track (June 2025). Among Chevrolet\u2019s other notable triumphs at the track includes Daniel Suarez\u2019s victory two years ago \u2013 an ending that went down in history as the closest three-wide finish in NASCAR\u2019s top division.
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ELLIOTT EYES REBOUND AT HOME<\/p>\n
Coming off of Turn Four to the checkered flag, Chase Elliott sat in the catbird seat with hist first Harley J. Earl trophy in reach. But in true Daytona fashion, a crash in the tri-oval saw the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team take home a fourth-place result. Despite a heartbreaking end to his Daytona Speedweek, the 2020 champion proved to be a contender all week long. With a top-10 qualifying effort, Elliott went on to capture the win in Duel No. 2 to secure a second-row starting position for the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500. Amassing a 33-point day, the 30-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native will head to his home track sitting third in the driver\u2019s points standings.<\/p>\n
What better way to get redemption than in front of a hometown crowd. Elliott already has the momentum on his side \u2013 returning to the Georgia venue as the track\u2019s most recent winner (June 2025). The victory made Elliott just the third two-time winner on the track\u2019s superspeedway-style configuration, joining the company of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, and Joey Logano. Elliott also paces the series with a best average finish of 11.357.
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STATEMENT SEASON-OPENER IN THE NOAPS<\/p>\n
Coming off a record season in the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series, Chevrolet picked up right where it left off with a near-dominate performance at Daytona International Speedway. With a front-row sweep in qualifying courtesy of the pair of Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet\u2019s, Austin Hill went on to take both stage wins en route to the organization\u2019s fifth-straight season-opening race win. On top of the victory, the manufacturer led all but two laps of the event with seven Team Chevy drivers tallying a combined 118 laps led. At the checkered flag, it was the Bowtie brigade that swept the top-20 positions of the final running order \u2013 a feat accomplished by 11 different organizations that are competing under the Chevrolet banner.
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RCR Continues to Stun on Superspeedways<\/p>\n
The Richard Childress Racing stable is always a frontrunner at drafting-style tracks, and the start of the 2026 season proved no difference. Once again, ECR power prevailed in qualifying at Daytona with the teammates, Austin Hill and Jesse Love, taking the top-two positions on the speed chart. The duo went on to lead 87.5 percent of the laps en route to the organization\u2019s fifth consecutive win in the series\u2019 season-opening event \u2013 a feat that ties the record previously set by Dale Earnhardt Inc. (1990-1994).<\/p>\n
Hill quickly found his footing post-reconfiguration of EchoPark Speedway \u2013 earning wins in five of the series\u2019 past eight races at the venue. His most recent came one year ago in the track\u2019s spring date \u2013 a victory that was solidified by an impressive 146 of 163 laps led. Returning to his stomping grounds, Hill has the perfect opportunity to add onto his already storied superspeedway legacy with last weekend\u2019s victory bringing his career total to 11 victories on the series\u2019 drafting-style tracks.
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BUSCH IS BACK<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winningest driver, Kyle Busch, will climb back behind the wheel of a Silverado RST this weekend for his first of eight starts in the series this season. A 67-time NCTS winner, Busch\u2019s most recent trip to victory lane in the series came one year ago at EchoPark Speedway. Since pairing with Spire Motorsports for his NCTS effort over the past two seasons, the 40-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native has scored three wins, five top-fives and six top-10s in 10 starts.
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STENHOUSE JR. WITH STRONG NCTS DEBUT<\/p>\n
Fresh off a strong sixth-place finish in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will return to the reigns of the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for back-to-back double-duty efforts. The 38-year-old Olive Branch, Mississippi, native is coming off another masterful superspeedway performance \u2013 coming just one spot short of his second DAYTONA 500 title. While it might be his first NCTS start at EchoPark Speedway, Stenhouse Jr. has proven to know his way around the 1.54-mile Georgia venue \u2013 earning top-six results in each of the Cup Series\u2019 visits to the track last season.
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BOWTIE BULLETS:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at EchoPark Speedway:<\/p>\n
Chase Elliott \u2013 two wins (July 2025; July 2022)<\/p>\n
William Byron \u2013 two wins (July 2023; March 2022)<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch \u2013 two wins (Sept. 2013, March 2008)<\/p>\n
Daniel Suarez \u2013 one win (Feb. 2024)<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 123 NASCAR Cup Series races held at EchoPark Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 46 victories. Since the reconfiguration of the 1.54-Georgia venue prior to the start of the 2022 season, Chevrolet has been the only manufacturer to reach victory lane in all three of NASCAR\u2019s national divisions \u2013 leading the way with five NCS wins, six NOAPS and three NCTS wins.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Since the debut of the Next Gen Cars in 2022, Chevrolet has won 13 of the 25 superspeedway-style races in the NASCAR Cup Series \u2013 recorded by seven drivers from four different Chevrolet teams:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 145 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 67 victories \u2013 a winning percentage of 46.2%.<\/p>\n
\ufeff\u00b7 Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles \u2013 capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 881 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
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TUNE-IN:<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series<\/p>\n
Autotrader 400<\/p>\n
Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90<\/p>\n
NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series<\/p>\n
Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250<\/p>\n
Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90<\/p>\n
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series<\/p>\n
Fr8 Racing 208<\/p>\n
Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
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QUOTABLE QUOTES:<\/p>\n
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What is your most memorable moment racing in Atlanta?<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I ever drove, I went and watched a race that Kyle Busch won, I think it was 2008. Another memorable moment was backing up to Christopher Bell off turn two to get some energy to make a run for the win on big Will Byron.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is the key to winning at Atlanta?<\/p>\n
\u201cAt EchoPark Speedway, to finish first, first you must finish. We\u2019ve seen big crashes with the new reconfiguration. So my goal is to have air in all four tires and have them pointed somewhat in the right direction toward the end of the race to give us a shot at the win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Are you looking forward to EchoPark Speedway after Daytona?<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving one race under the belt with my new crew chief, Brandon McSwain, is great. I feel like everything went well in Daytona. We don\u2019t have any practice at Atlanta but I\u2019m confident the car will be good. It\u2019ll be a little more traditional weekend at EchoPark since we aren\u2019t there for a week (laughs), but it\u2019s great to have the season started and get back into a routine. It\u2019s the first Wendy\u2019s paint scheme of the year which is cool. They always have fun promotions in their app so I hope everyone takes advantage of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
EchoPark Speedway changed a lot with the repave and the reconfiguration, but how has it changed since? Where are we with the evolution?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think EchoPark Speedway is gaining character from the winters, and just the passing of time. That place is so banked, and you\u2019re starting to find little bumps and stuff that were in it from the beginning that are getting bigger. It\u2019s a cool style of racing. It\u2019s a lot different than what we all envisioned a repave of EchoPark Speedway would be, I think. It\u2019s speedway racing but with an important handling component. Handling is going to become more and more important as the track wears. I had a lot of fun in previous races there, even though we\u2019ve been caught up in some messes.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very easy to get caught up in somebody else\u2019s problems at EchoPark Speedway\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems like it is, because two years ago that was probably the best car I\u2019ve had going there. We were just riding along and the wreck happens and you\u2019re in it. I mean, if you\u2019re within a car length, it\u2019s very tough to get away from the wreck at EchoPark Speedway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
How do you view Atlanta? Is it a superspeedway or an intermediate racetrack?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s either in my opinion. I think it\u2019s a hybrid track and the reason why I like it so much is because it is very different. It doesn\u2019t race like a 1.5-mile track but it also doesn\u2019t race like a superspeedway, either, because everything happens so quick. The way the track is built, the speed in the corners, the banking is just completely different when you compare it to another 1.5 mile track, for example, Kansas Speedway. So, the way I see it, yes maybe on paper people call Atlanta a superspeedway with that style of racing, but to me it\u2019s a hybrid.\u201d<\/p>\n
How mentally taxing is Atlanta compared to other tracks?<\/p>\n
\u201cAtlanta is very mentally exhausting. At most 1.5-mile tracks, you usually get some space after five or 10 laps to move around, and at superspeedways, it\u2019s intense but mostly in the first 15 laps. At Atlanta, you never get space\u2014you can\u2019t relax or reset. Even running 25th, it\u2019s still super intense. You have to go full speed and constantly learn and adjust during the race. There\u2019s no time to think about what just happened because everything happens so fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
Talk about racing at EchoPark Speedway and what it\u2019s like.<\/p>\n
\u201cEchoPark Speedway is an entirely different track than what it used to be. No more old age asphalt and running and strategy to have the best tires at the end. It\u2019s a speedway race. It\u2019s all everybody on top of one another and there\u2019s a lot of chess matches going on. So trying to figure out the best lane to be in, where you want to be on that last lap, do you want to be leading, do you want to be second, it just kind of depends on the situations and the runs and the energy that is happening behind you from the other cars to push you forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talk about the chaotic nature of racing in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
\u201cAtlanta has gotten pretty chaotic, anything can happen. Any moment, we\u2019re pushing each other, bumping each other, and more times than not we\u2019re crashing down the straightaways. It\u2019s a tricky little racetrack because it\u2019s a mile-and-a-half. So the superspeedway aspect of it, at a mile-and-a-half, the speed sensation is so much higher. So, it\u2019s really a fun place to race, but yet a big challenge on the drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n
How do you balance the aggression of racing there, and surviving?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to be aggressive at Atlanta because you want to get up towards the front. You want to make those moves to get yourself in position, and everybody else is also trying to do that, so you got 30-40 drivers vying for that number one position, and it gets a little bit hectic. But, you know, you\u2019ve got to wait. It\u2019s a long race, you can\u2019t be wrecking and piling up 30 something cars in Turn 3 in the first stage it just makes zero sense. So trying to find a way to make it through the wrecks and not get caught up in one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do you like just getting up and rolling, or would you prefer some practice when it comes to speedway racing?<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like practice. I feel like us being able to get out there, make a couple of runs and shake things out, finalize your heights and put everything where you want it to be, and then go qualify. I feel like that\u2019s okay, we\u2019re talking 20 minutes of practice we get every week anyway, so let\u2019s just do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
Thoughts after Daytona?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy after Speedweeks. We showed great speed in every session and race. A top-15 after everything that went on Sunday around us is pretty good. Our team worked well together, communicated like we should and had a really good strategy. We have some things to clean up on the execution side, but I know we will fix that. I expect we\u2019ll run well this Sunday in Atlanta.\u201d<\/p>\n
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of a quasi-superspeedway, I mean everybody\u2019s running in a pack, and it\u2019s intense. It definitely feels as fast inside the race car as the racetrack looks from the outside. It\u2019s probably one of the most intense races we have, mentally and even somewhat physically.<\/p>\n
In the past, we\u2019ve had good cars there and some strong finishes. At the end of the day, it\u2019s the same deal, put yourself in the right position, try to miss the wrecks, and hopefully go there, be strong, and execute the race weekend the way we need to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cComing out of Daytona with a second-place finish gives our whole team a lot of confidence heading into Atlanta. We had a fast race car, executed well, and that momentum is something we want to keep building on. Atlanta races a lot like a superspeedway now, so drafting, track position, and making smart decisions all day are going to be important. Having Chef Boyardee on the car makes it even more fun and we\u2019re ready to go fight for another strong finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cHendrick Motorsports had a strong showing in Daytona, which is really positive to see with the new Chevrolet body. Obviously, for our No. 48 Ally team, being in the wrong place at the wrong time ended our day early last weekend. With what we saw out of the car, we\u2019re ready to get to Atlanta, another drafting track, and see what we can accomplish. We have shown speed there, had good runs in the past and we\u2019ll look to continue building on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Atlanta, you\u2019re laser-focused on the racetrack and what\u2019s going on directly in front of you. You don\u2019t have time to think or even breathe. It\u2019s more difficult than Daytona in that regard.<\/p>\n
Atlanta takes superspeedway racing to the extreme, where we\u2019re drafting on an even smaller, tighter track. It makes the margin of error razor thin, almost non-existent. You\u2019re basically at the whim of everything going on around you.<\/p>\n
You want to know that you\u2019ve got a racecar that\u2019s going to stay underneath you as the tires wear off throughout the run. It\u2019s about having a good-handling, well-balanced racecar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What did you learn during Atlanta last year that you can use for this weekend?<\/p>\n
\u201cI am looking forward to going to Atlanta with B\u2019laster on our Spire Motorsports Chevy.\u2029We obviously had some troubles there on the No. 71 last year and rallied back to the lead lap, but 77 had a great run there at the end of the race; Carson was one of the fastest cars. So, we have a good notebook and good momentum coming off Daytona with having cars that had lots of speed and handled well, now going to another drafting semi-speedway track to hopefully redeem ourselves from Daytona.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What about the new configuration at Atlanta has clicked for you?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been envious and watched a bunch of races at the old bumpy Daytona. Every time I get to run Atlanta it just makes me think about bumpy Daytona where you can draft by yourself. You don\u2019t need anybody. You can just make moves and time things. It\u2019s basically all offense. It just works for me. If this move didn\u2019t work, I\u2019ll get back in line and make the next one. And if that didn\u2019t work, I\u2019ll make the next one. Eventually, one of my six moves is going to work and I\u2019ll gain spots. Ultimately, I\u2019m just smiling the whole time because it reminds me of those nostalgic 2000s era races at Daytona. Atlanta provides the opportunity and it\u2019s something I\u2019ve always wanted to do, so that\u2019s the best thing we got.\u201d<\/p>\n
How do you balance the disappointment of the finish of last weekend\u2019s Daytona 500 with the optimism of Atlanta this weekend?<\/p>\n
\u201cWell we ran second in the Duel on Thursday, and were right where we needed to be on Sunday. We were leading coming to the white, but obviously, things just didn\u2019t work out. I\u2019m not too disappointed knowing we were where we needed to be and there isn\u2019t really anything I could have done to prevent the outcome. If anything, I am more confident for Atlanta this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
After a busy week in Daytona, are you looking forward to getting back to more normal race weekend at EchoPark Speedway?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be nice to have a nice, short weekend. Atlanta is a really chaotic racetrack. I\u2019ve got Tootsies on my car for the first time which is really cool and getting to experience what it\u2019s going to be like to get in the rhythm of things and understand what it\u2019s like to be a full-time Cup driver and that starts this weekend. It\u2019s going to be a long season but I\u2019m excited for each and every weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
How big of a factor is handling at EchoPark Speedway?<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time we go back to EchoPark Speedway it gets harder and harder to hold it wide open around that place. When it\u2019s three-wide and you\u2019re hanging on to your racecar it\u2019s superspeedway racing but your car isn\u2019t handling well it makes for some pretty crazy racing and it\u2019s certainly intense behind the wheel too. Everything happens quicker but it makes for a lot of fun behind the wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is the racing like at EchoPark Speedway like in a Cup car?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re on the edge of being flat-out the entire time. It\u2019s very, very close quarters racing and everyone is in a pack. Anything can happen at any time, and we saw that last year. It\u2019s a very exciting race and it opens up a lot of opportunities for guys who maybe don\u2019t have the chance to win every week.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much did you learn at Daytona that will help you this week?<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of things, just understanding how these Cup cars race in the draft and just how different they are. It\u2019s a big learning curve for me so figuring that out is crucial. I had a good day in Daytona and learned a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What does race at EchoPark Speedway compare too? Do you like the racing there?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of like a mile and a half, the way it kind of drives but the racing is one of the most fun ovals, I think. You\u2019re always jockeying for position and trying to put yourself in the right spot. I really like the racing there.\u201d<\/p>\n
How intense is it racing there (EchoPark Speedway)? Is it more mental or physical?<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s all mental. You\u2019re trying to think, and I always find myself getting too excited, then you end up going bottom of three, then you have no help down the straights, and you just get shucked back. It\u2019s a real challenge to have patience there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is the drafting hard for you? Or do you feel like you kind of got that down?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m still learning and trying to make friends, I guess. People leave you for no reason, or you do something wrong and lose the trust of people. It takes a while to understand how to put your car in the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n
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