Snapshot: Atlanta

By Kathy Sheldon

The lower downforce package for 2016 makes its debut at the first race of the year on an intermediate track, the 57th annual Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 (1 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.) Here are the key things to know heading into Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race.

Just the facts

Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.54-mile oval in Hampton, Georgia.
Green flag time: 1:16 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 28
TV/Radio: FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Sunny with a high of 66 degrees, 0 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service
National anthem: Robin Meade
Grand marshal: Robert Patrick
Distance: 325 laps, 500.5 miles
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 55 mph

Lowering the boom

Drivers anticipate a wild race as the lower downforce package comes into play.
Rookie Chase Elliott said drivers know more about how the package should perform than we might think, thanks to several testing sessions and runs with a similar package at Kentucky and Darlington in 2015.

But fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson emphasized there's still a lot to learn.

Carl Edwards said, 'You hook the apron, (the) car whips sideways. I mean you've got to really stay on top of it. It's like a big dirt race.'

MORE: Drivers ready for lower downforce

The Busch Brothers

Kurt Busch inherited the pole position when younger brother Kyle's qualifying time was disallowed after the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Toyota failed post-qualifying inspection Friday. It would have been the third time Kurt and Kyle shared the front row for a race, and Kyle won the first two.

Neither brother competed in the 2015 Atlanta race as Kyle was recovering from injuries and Kurt was working through legal issues.

Kyle Larson was fastest in the Sprint Cup Series' first practice, with a top speed of 192.902 mph in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Denny Hamlin led final practice with a speed of 188.450 mph in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

MORE: Kurt Busch on pole after Kyle's time disqualified

Roush ready to roar

Roush Fenway Racing has two drivers starting in the top 10 Sunday. Trevor Bayne qualified third, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. starts fifth.

During the preseason Charlotte Media Tour, Jack Roush and all of his drivers talked about continued hard work and improvements in the organization. Strong qualifying is a good start for the organization, but finishing with drivers in the top 10 would be a shot in the arm for not only the at-track drivers and crew, but also those back at the shop.

MORE: Lineup, qualifying speeds

He said it

'Having a good short-run car is great, but having a good long-run car wins the race.'
--Trevor Bayne, after qualifying third in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford