Saturday’s FR8 Racing 208 at EchoPark Speedway (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will pit some of the best ever in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with last year’s dominant champion Corey Heim back on the grid, alongside two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.
A record-setting eight-time winner at the track, Busch will make the first of his eight season starts this weekend. He’s won the last two Atlanta races giving him an average finish of 1.0 in his two races on the re-design.
The series is coming off a ratings bonanza last week at Daytona, the FS1 season-opener watched by almost 1.4 million viewers — making it the most-watched truck race since 2016. Front Row Motorsports’ Chandler Smith prevailed in a dramatic run to the checkered flag capping a night that featured the most lead changes (32) in any race ever for the series.
The Ram All-Star truck entrant this week is NASCAR Cup Series regular Ty Dillon. Ram marked its return to NASCAR competition last week at Daytona with Brenden Queen’s seventh-place finish best among the five Ram trucks. Rookie and “Race for the Seat” winner Mini Tyrrell earned a 19th-place finish in his series debut.
Kennametal Pole Qualifying is Friday at 3 p.m. ET (FS1). Connor Mosack won pole position last year.
The strategy for most teams coming into Saturday’s Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 (5 p.m. ET on The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta looks a whole lot like it did in last weekend’s Daytona season-opener.
The field needs to figure out a way to beat Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, who is not only the defending winner at his “home” track, but also has won five of the last seven races at the 1.54-miler.
Hill, 31, enters the race weekend following a strong victory in the No. 21 RCR Chevrolet last Saturday at Daytona, when he led 78 of 120 laps. His closest challenger was his RCR teammate Jesse Love, who also spent most of the day at Daytona running among the frontrunners before ultimately finishing ninth.
The 2025 spring Atlanta race results actually looked a lot like the season-opening Daytona race last week. Hill and Love set the pace and ultimately Hill edged former series champion Justin Allgaier to the finish line. Last year at EchoPark, Hill led 146 of 163 laps. He has claimed a series record 11 wins at drafting tracks.
And, should Hill win Saturday evening, he would become the first driver in series history to win the first two races of the season multiple times — answering his work in 2024 at Daytona and EchoPark.
Only three drivers scored top-10 finishes in both EchoPark races last year, but AM Racing’s Nick Sanchez is the only one competing this weekend. The 24-year-old finished fifth in this race and scored his only career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory in June.
Of note, a win for Allgaier in 2026 would give him a victory in 10 straight seasons, an all-time record breaking the mark he currently shares with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin and Kyle Busch.
NASCAR Cup Series regular Ross Chastain will drive the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet in the first of his four scheduled starts this year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Kennametal Pole Qualifying is set for 5 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 20 (The CW App). Love is the defending polesitter and has won pole position in three of the last four races.
If the Daytona 500 is every driver’s opening statement for the season to come, Tyler Reddick delivered his message loud and clear on Sunday afternoon. His gutsy final-lap pass on Chase Elliott and Zane Smith gave his boss, Michael Jordan, an early birthday present like no other — “It feels like I won a championship,” MJ said — and provided 23XI Racing the defining victory of its six years in the NASCAR Cup Series.
It also served as a much-needed reminder that Reddick is not a driver to be underestimated, especially in big moments.
In a lot of ways, the 2025 season was the most challenging of Reddick’s Cup career. Off the track, he and his wife, Alexa, faced something far more important than a race: Their newborn son, Rookie, needed life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from his chest — a frightening chapter that Reddick said the support of the NASCAR community helped them get through. (Reddick told interviewers on Sunday that Rookie was doing better, and he was on hand in Daytona as his dad won.) And while the stakes on the track were nowhere near as significant, Reddick was less dominant in competition as well.
After winning multiple races in each of the previous three seasons — including a trio of wins in 2024 — Reddick went winless in 2025, posting his fewest top-fives (7) and top-10s (14) since joining 23XI from Richard Childress Racing after the 2022 season. Along the way, Reddick failed to build upon his first-ever trip to the Championship 4 in 2024 by going backward — bowing out in the Round of 12.
There were signs, however, that Reddick’s down year was also not quite as down as it seemed on the surface. While his raw totals suffered, Reddick maintained some of the most consistent driving of his career in 2025, with an average finish of 14.5 — up from 13.2 in 2024, but better than any other season of his career (including 2023, when he finished higher in the standings but had less week-to-week consistency). As part of that, he finished the year with only a single DNF, the fewest he ever had in a full season as a Cup driver.
Reddick also went 52-24 head-to-head against others in 23XI equipment a year ago, good for a 68.4% matchup winning percentage against teammates that ranked No. 1 among all drivers in the Cup Series. (We even gave him one of our imaginary end-of-season awards for his performance in that category last November.) And as we noted with another of our awards, Reddick was tied with Chris Buescher for the winless drivers who “deserved” to win the most last season, based on their Driver Rating in each race. Both drivers would have been expected to win about once apiece under normal circumstances, an indication of how Reddick’s lack of wins were as much a matter of bad luck as anything else.
Some of Reddick’s usual hallmarks were admittedly a bit absent a year ago. After spending three seasons (2022-24) with the second-highest average start in the series — at 10.0, trailing only Kyle Larson at 9.0 — Reddick dropped to an average start of 12.2, “only” fifth-best behind Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Larson and Denny Hamlin. While Reddick actually won head-to-head over 58.3% of the drivers who started within the same five-slot block as him on the grid — his best such showing against nearby starters in a season — he couldn’t translate that into as many high finishes while qualifying lower than usual.
His finishes on short tracks, and especially ovals, were also not as impressive as they were in the previous two seasons. In 2024, Reddick had a top-five (at Richmond) and a pair of other top-10s on short tracks, while he failed to register a single top-10 at the same tracks last year. And after a season of stellar results on intermediates and ovals in 2024 — most notably including his incredible pass of 23XI team owner Denny Hamlin and then defending champ Ryan Blaney while hugging the wall on the final lap of the playoff race at Homestead — Reddick turned in little more than an average performance in 2025, with zero wins, three top-fives and three other top-10s in 18 starts.
Even amidst those results, though, Reddick would have held his own if the new Chase format was in place a year ago. Entering The Chase ranked eighth in the standings, he would have risen to fifth place (27 points off the lead) after finishing second at Darlington to begin the postseason slate. He would have spent most of the remaining Chase races about 80 points out of first place — a bit outside the realm of what could be made up in a single afternoon — but not bad for what was considered a frustrating season.
The truth is that, much like Elliott — another consistent star driver who can almost always be counted on to avoid disastrous finishes — Reddick (rightly) has an advantage under any system that rewards steady point accumulation. While The Chase deliberately increases the value of wins as well, a return to a form of point racing, where every position matters, is good news for Reddick, who scored at least 11 points in all of his races last year and 25 or more in 22 of 36 starts.
Even better news? Reddick immediately got the losing monkey off of his back to begin the 2026 season the way every driver dreams: in Victory Lane at Daytona. With fewer real-life worries weighing on his mind, a life-changing win already under his belt, a more favorable scoring system in place and (he hopes) better luck this time around, the driver of the No. 45 car seems set up to thrive going forward — and to potentially race for something just as big as the 500, come November.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Martinsville Speedway will once again host NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The famed short track will continue to be the setting for the finale of the Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing, where one driver will be named champion under the lights of Martinsville Speedway.
“The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is an event that our fans and everyone at Martinsville Speedway eagerly awaits every year,” said Clay Campbell, President of Martinsville Speedway. “It embodies a rich history of tradition, grit, and perseverance, all coming together in one unforgettable race, and not only does it offer the chance to celebrate a race winner, but also a Triple Crown Champion.”
Last year marked 30 years of the of the Triple Crown finale race as well as 10 years of the longstanding partnership between ValleyStar Credit Union and Martinsville Speedway. The partnership dates back to 2015 when the company was first named entitlement sponsor for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.
After a rough and tough battle on track, Landon Pembelton secured his second Grandfather Clock trophy in the 2025 race, winning the 30th Anniversary edition of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
Pembelton battled his way through all 200 laps of NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious Late Model Stock Car race, navigating cautions, weather and the rest of the field to earn the victory. This marks Pembelton’s second ValleyStar Credit Union 300 win, previously winning in 2021.
While Pembleton earned the Grandfather Clock, two-time NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Champion Connor Hall finished 11th in the field in the final leg of the Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing, giving him the edge he needed and ultimately earning the title of Triple Crown Champion.
Fans can purchase tickets to the 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at www.martinsvillespeedway.com or via phone at 877-RACE-TIX. The Virginia Triple Crown finale presented by FloRacing will also be available to stream on Flo Racing and The NASCAR Channel.
The NASCAR Cup, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Craftsman Truck series all head to Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway for a spring tripleheader in the Peach State. Check out the qualifying orders for all three series.
For nearly two decades, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rodney Childers pondered what it would be like working together.
In 2026, after a year of Earnhardt courting Childers to JRM, the high school classmates get their chance.
“I feel like there’s nothing better than working for one of your best friends, someone that is going to have your back and put you in an environment to succeed,” Childers said. “He’s not going to let me fail. It’s been a ton of fun at the shop. That shop is the exact environment that I was looking for. Working with these guys and these old-style cars is what I always loved. It keeps me awake at night thinking of new things and how to make things better.”
Childers signed on to crew chief JR Motorsports’ No. 1 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entry, split between Carson Kvapil (24 races) and Connor Zilisch, a 10-time winner in 2025 who is now the full-time pilot of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
After last year went awry for Childers at Spire Motorsports, this gig was the next best opportunity.
“These are cars he really enjoys working on,” Earnhardt told NASCAR.com through text message. “The O’Reilly Series garage has a vintage Cup feel to it that I think will appeal to him. I hope he can appreciate the opportunity to teach drivers, engineers and mechanics.
“We get these kids who have big dreams, and over time, you become their biggest fan. In turn, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to help them get the call or next big break. That’s now what I hope Rodney sees and embraces.”
Childers joined JRM in mid-October and immediately grew a liking for the organization. He departed Spire after spending just nine races with Justin Haley in 2025.
“The more I thought about that, everything happens for a reason,” Childers said. “The Lord has put me in this place for a reason. All this [expletive] is happening for a reason. It was time to do something different.”
Joining JR Motorsports was an option that Childers contemplated with his family after spending the previous 22 seasons at the Cup Series level. It will be different, as in the past, his wife and children were able to fly to every race weekend.
“The money and glory doesn’t mean anything when you’re running 22nd every weekend on the Cup side and going home miserable every week,” Childers said. “On this side, hopefully we can contend for wins every week, go home every single day with a smile on our faces. Some things happen for a reason, and we feel like this is one of them.”
Immediately, Childers recognized the dedication that Earnhardt and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, had to their company. They lead by example from the top down, with their energy spreading throughout the walls.
“I think what has been pretty impressive to me is how involved he and Kelley are,” Childers said. “They work their butts off. This isn’t something that just happens on its own. It’s impressive to see how hungry they are. With the legacy they have, do they really have to be there every day and be as involved as they are? They want to do it and strive to do it every day.”
That grind is something Childers knows all too well. Every morning, he’s among the first employees to race to the shop, always clocking in early. That hustle has spread throughout the JRM headquarters, with more of his coworkers arriving early as well.
Childers, a straight-to-the-point individual, knows JRM is filled with “a bunch of racers.”
“Every morning, I wake up before my alarm goes off just thinking of these things and then I get there and am like, ‘I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to do this,'” Childers said. “These cars, I have so much memory bank in my head of what we did all those years.
“It was only a week or two of being there, and I was beating everyone to the shop except for [Mike Bumgarner, JRM’s director of competition], which he’s hard to outwork. I started noticing more people showing up earlier, and it was one person, then it was two people, then five and then 10. That’s good to see. They don’t have to be there at 6 a.m.; they don’t have to be there until 6:59, but they want to be there. It’s good to see that kind of motivation and people that want to be there.”
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Admittedly, Childers knows there could be kinks to work out between himself and the drivers. His blunt personality, compared to both Zilisch and Kvapil’s laid-back personas, could take time to adjust. The relationship started off with a seventh-place finish for Kvapil at Daytona International Speedway. Kvapil will pilot the No. 1 machine this Saturday at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway (5 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“We will see how it goes once we get a few races in,” Kvapil said. “Who knows, it might not work out, but I don’t see that. I think we’re cut from the same cloth. We’re both late model guys. There is a lot of stuff similar with me and Rodney. I’m super excited to get it going and hopefully win some races.”
Childers, known as a mastermind atop the pit box, believes his creativity will be on display more with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series chassis. He can make more of a difference compared to being at the Cup level, where all teams have the same parts and pieces to assemble on the Next Gen car. It’s something he excelled at for a decade, guiding Kevin Harvick to 37 race wins with Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I think it will be a big advantage, honestly,” Childers said. “We were into every detail. That 4 team was a bunch of special people. I realize even more now how detailed we were. Every single thing mattered. There wasn’t one nut, one bolt, one ounce of oil that didn’t matter. We raced at a different level.
“On this side of it in the O’Reilly Series, it’s hard to race at that level. You don’t have the amount of people to race at that level, there’s not enough time in the day to race at that level. But you can damn sure try. It might take a few more hours than what you’re used to, but we’re going to try to race at the highest level we can.”
There is no new NASCAR policy this season on waiting to display a yellow flag after a crash, but there was a new approach for the Daytona 500.
On the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast, NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said NASCAR was prepared to throw the yellow when chaos erupted in Turn 1 on the last lap Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. The race still ended under green despite multiple incidents involving more than a dozen cars.
But Forde noted a similar type of crash this weekend at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway could trigger a yellow flag because of different circumstances involving the wreck and track dimensions at the 1.5-mile track.
“We may see a hit that looks hard, a nose-into-the-wall collision that bent the front clip, and we need to get safety trucks out there as soon as possible,” Forde said. “We did not see that in Daytona.
“Or that same type of wreck could happen, but the runoff area in Atlanta is nonexistent. There is a ton of runoff area in Daytona. And so because of that, they were able to get out of harm’s way. In Atlanta, that probably won’t be the case, so there may be a flag. We are going to do our best to maintain consistency. That is the ultimate goal, but every wreck is a snowflake. No two wrecks are the same, and because we’re at a different track, it changes the game.”
Forde said NASCAR’s philosophy on throwing the yellow has been consistent since the second race of the 2025 season. After controversy over the yellow being held during a big crash in last year’s Daytona 500, officials announced in a drivers meeting they would be more aggressive about throwing cautions for debris fields.
“That was kind of a line in the sand of moving forward, this is the philosophy,” Forde said.
NASCAR senior vice president of competition Elton Sawyer also has been in touch with Drivers Advisory Council consultant Jeff Burton about caution flag timing.
“They’re making sure that the drivers feel that what we did (at Daytona) was correct,” Forde said. “And if they have any feedback, we’ll absolutely take it. … We want to make sure that the drivers feel comfortable, and that’s why we changed on the debris field philosophy. That was direct driver feedback from the likes of Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and others who said, ‘Don’t put us in a situation where we’ve just got to go 100% throttle and hope for the best.’ You can’t have that.” …
Forde said NASCAR is also evaluating potential changes to address the trend of mass fuel conservation on superspeedways.
“Getting rid of (fuel conservation in the Daytona 500) entirely is probably not going to happen, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to try and work at it,” Forde said. “It’s something on the docket. Fans wanted change in the playoffs, we did that. Fans wanted more horsepower, we did that. Fans wanted to change the (Charlotte) Roval to the oval, we did that. So this is also on the list of fan feedback, so we’ll see. TBD and no real answers yet, but it’s something that’s on the list.”
Forde also said NASCAR’s operations and security team has launched an investigation into an unidentified fan who interrupted a TV interview with Daniel Suárez after the Daytona 500.
“If we do find out who this person is, it’s certainly not going to end well for this particular person,” Forde said. “It’s certainly an unfortunate incident that we are taking seriously.”
Other topics covered by Forde and senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis during the 43rd episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
— The infraction that kept Anthony Alfredo from qualifying for the Daytona 500.
— An alteration to the windshield signage in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this season.
Click on the embed below to listen or search for “Hauler Talk” wherever you download podcasts to hear it on your phone, tablet or mobile device.
Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA Today and, for the past 10 years, at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the “Hauler Talk” show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He has also covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR today announced the launch of NASCAR Signature Experiences, a premium hospitality and entertainment platform designed to deliver elevated, immersive race weekend access for fans, partners and corporate guests across the NASCAR season.
The foundation of NASCAR Signature Experiences is two new flagship offerings — 1948 and Rev House — each designed to provide distinctive, high-end access and curated hospitality that will bring fans closer to the sport than ever before.
“NASCAR Signature Experiences represents the next evolution of the premium fan experience at NASCAR race weekends,” said Michael Verlatti, vice president, signature experience group. “With 1948 and Rev House, we’re creating distinct environments that blend elevated service, curated culinary programs, and immersive storytelling. The goal is to bring fans and partners closer to the sport by delivering distinct, high-touch experiences that combine access, service, and energy in a way that is unmistakably NASCAR.”
1948: Heritage Meets Modern Luxury
Named in honor of NASCAR’s founding year, 1948 is an all-inclusive, premium hospitality experience designed for guests seeking a refined race weekend access. Offered at select NASCAR events throughout the season, 1948 delivers elevated viewing with prime sightlines of on-track competition, curated amenities, elevated culinary offerings, premium beverage service, and dedicated VIP entry and concierge-level service.
The 1948 space draws from NASCAR’s history but is defined by its details: considered design, premium finishes, and a service approach that feels effortless instead of formal. Guests can expect the best sightlines in the venue, an atmosphere that feels discreet and exclusive, and a polished sense of place. Nothing is loud or showy — every touchpoint is simply thoughtful, high-end, and distinctively authentic as the year NASCAR was founded.
Additional benefits include garage and pit road access, a track lap, pre-race entertainment areas, and a curated Victory Lane celebration. Exclusive driver appearances and topped off with a bespoke commemorative gift — either received onsite or delivered to the guest’s preferred location — ensuring the feeling of 1948 extends well beyond race day.
1948 brings NASCAR’s most premium moments together in one seamless experience. It blends NASCAR’s storied heritage with contemporary hospitality design for a race-day experience at the highest level. To learn more about 1948, visit www.nascarexperiences.com/1948.
Rev House: Energy, Access, and Elevated Entertainment
The new Rev House offers a high-energy, event hospitality environment that combines premium access with an immersive entertainment atmosphere. It is designed for fans who want to be at the center of the action and showcases an elevated experience with a live DJ.
Rev House delivers prime viewing locations near key race weekend activity, inclusive food and beverage packages, curated entertainment elements and live programming, and exclusive access areas that bring guests closer to drivers and teams.
Rev House blends the social energy of race weekend with premium service, creating a dynamic environment that captures the speed, sound, and spectacle of NASCAR competition. For more information on Rev House, visit www.nascarexperiences.com/revhouse.
NASCAR Signature Experiences is led by the NASCAR Signature Experience Group, which delivers fan-facing, VIP, entertainment, and hospitality experiences each race weekend. The group leads the design, production, and execution of NASCAR’s live event product, ensuring every touchpoint from arrival to Victory Lane reflects the best of the NASCAR experience.
NASCAR Signature Experiences represents the next evolution of live motorsports hospitality. By unifying the premium access, culinary excellence, creative storytelling, and operational precision under one integrated platform, NASCAR is setting a new benchmark for fan engagement and experiential design. To learn more about NASCAR Signature Experiences, visit www.nascarexperiences.com.
NASCAR.com’s Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Cup Series drivers competing for the 2026 championship after the season-opening Daytona 500 and before Sunday’s Autotrader 400 at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway (3 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell enters as the defending winner.
Analysis: Reddick executed on Sunday’s final lap to deliver one of the most dramatic Daytona 500 finishes in recent memory, grabbing the lead in the closing seconds and barreling to Victory Lane for 23XI Racing and co-owner Michael Jordan’s first “Great American Race” win. No. 45 led only the final lap but did everything right in a truly wild race, and his points haul puts him firmly in the (extremely) early championship picture, which is still worth noting after coming off a down 2025 season. If 23XI can keep his car in the mix all afternoon at Atlanta, Reddick could be a factor to start 2-0.
Analysis: Make no mistake about it — Chase Elliott was in position to win the Daytona 500 on the final lap to finally break through for NASCAR’s most prized crown jewel, only to be swept aside by Reddick’s late move and ultimately finish fourth. That near-miss stings, but it also underscores his ability to navigate traffic and position himself when it matters most, which will come in handy this weekend as he attempts to make it two in a row at his home track. Elliott’s knack for lane choice and momentum should keep him toward the front, and while he may not have the Harley J. Earl, he left Florida with points and promise.
Analysis: Byron’s three-peat attempt was a mix of staying upright after more contact than he’d have preferred and surviving the wrecks, and he ultimately finished just outside the top 10 after splitting through pockets of chaos at the end. While not where he wanted to be — in Daytona Victory Lane celebrating a 500 win for an unprecedented third straight time — he walked away with decent points and a whole season ahead. EchoPark’s style of extended draft and pack momentum will reward those who can find consistent forward progress without overreacting, something Byron has done well over his career. If he and the team can manage position early, a rebound weekend is well within reach, but plenty of highlight-worthy days remain ahead in 2026 at large.
Analysis: Larson navigated Daytona’s turmoil all day, staying in contention into the closing moments to finish just outside the top 15 in a race that is often, to put it simply, rude to him. EchoPark’s got an unconventional drafting style that could land in Larson’s wheelhouse over time, so the defending champ will continue to be a name to watch in the early going here, in addition to all season long.
Analysis: A favorite of many to win his first Daytona 500, Blaney did lead two laps and walk out with a decent-enough 27 points, but the record books will still show a disappointing P27. EchoPark’s ever-shifting draft packs will continue to play to his strengths, though, as a driver more than comfortable in the draft and able to exploit openings without panic. If Team Penske has clean early speed, Blaney should be in the conversation again, and this weekend could establish him as one of the steadiest early contenders. As expected.
Analysis: Three-time 500 winner Hamlin wasn’t immune to the Daytona melee, but he clearly hasn’t lost a step in the rebound from a difficult end to 2025. EchoPark’s style also plays into his key abilities, so expect him to be aggressive in the draft but calculated more than most as he looks to strike early in 2026.
Analysis: Buescher appeared in the late stages of the race to be in contention for the win, and while that didn’t come to pass, he maneuvered Daytona relatively cleanly and came home with a top 10. RFK’s improvements continue to show up in moments like this, and EchoPark will only give them more opportunity to flex on this style while shaping into a threat at other tracks lately as well.
Analysis: Logano positioned himself, somehow, to bring home a top-three result out of a wild final lap, reminding everyone why he’s one of the best on superspeedways in an otherwise somewhat pedestrian day for him. The former Atlanta resident should find himself at EchoPark back where he’s comfortable — near the front of the field — and it’s quite possible “Even Year Joey” gets an early start on his championship run this weekend.
Analysis: Briscoe’s Daytona ended well outside the spotlight after he got caught up in a mess and his shot at the win ended early, though he did finish the race. Expected to compete once again for a championship after making last year’s Championship 4, look for the Daytona front-row-starter to once again have a fast ride this weekend.
Analysis: Bell’s Daytona was a tough one, with contact and chaos burying him deep despite having shown competitive speed at times earlier in the race. He is of course capable of a rebound on any weekend he’s looking for one, but with this one in particular — which he enters as the defending race winner — the title contender can feel especially good about it.
Analysis: Wallace led the most laps at Daytona (40) and still finished inside the top 10, but the dejection on his face after coming so close while seeing his teammate celebrate winning the race that eludes him was evident. Still, that performance leaves him near the top of the early standings and, more importantly, gives confirmation that 23XI has drafting command right now.
Analysis: Starting from the rear in a backup car, Chastain led at halfway, cycled to the front during green-flag stops and showed top-tier speed before the closing laps sorted him into the midpack and out of a trophy bid. EchoPark’s draft-heavy intermediate style could play directly into No. 1’s comfort zone, manipulating lanes instead of just surviving pack chaos. Plenty of Ross Chastain ahead for us this year.
Analysis: Preece wasn’t able to keep the momentum going off a Clash win and relatively strong overall Daytona week, culminating in a finish that didn’t reflect the speed he’s shown in the early going. All signs point to RFK once again giving him a car that can maneuver in the draft, and he’s got a shot to keep his name in the 2026 headlines this weekend.
Analysis: SVG once again showed flashes of comfort in pack traffic before Daytona’s late incidents cut short what could have been a noteworthy run to open an important year for him. If he and Trackhouse can avoid Atlanta attrition, SVG could put many doubters to rest if he can maintain his clear early improvements.
Analysis: Bowman’s Daytona result was a victim of circumstance more than lack of speed; he was in the mix before a big wreck thinned the field. He does have a pair of top-five runs at Atlanta in the past two seasons, but each came in the summer race. Still, he could rebound.
Analysis: Berry turned a chaotic Daytona into a points-earning top-10, mostly avoiding wrecks and doing what he needed to do. Berry’s approach has always been measured, but he may need a way to get aggressive at Atlanta, where he’s yet to finish better than 18th in five tries.
Analysis: The first-time Daytona 500 polesitter had high hopes to add “first-time Daytona 500 winner” in addition to that, but Busch will have to settle with a top 15 after making it through the chaos but failing to find the front at the end. RCR clearly has the juice it’s looking for on drafting tracks right now, though, and the two-time Atlanta winner has recent success there as well. No reason to think it won’t continue.
Analysis: Keselowski gutted out a hobbled Speedweek only to leave Daytona … gutted that he came so close to winning his first Harley J. Earl and was taken out of contention in the final seconds. A top five is still a decent way to start the year, though, and the two-time EchoPark winner and last summer’s runner-up should be once again in the mix.
Analysis: Hocevar flirted with history, leading on the white flag of the 500 and looking set to become the first to win his first Cup race in NASCAR’s crown jewel, but Lady Luck was not on his side Sunday, and it will have to wait. While heartbreaking for him in real time, it showed he has the speed and track sense to be up front at the biggest races, and we should only expect that to continue. EchoPark’s extended drafts will be a different animal, but if he can convert his raw aggression into forward position early, Hocevar could reset quickly and climb back into contention, and perhaps last spring’s runner-up will finish one spot higher this time around.
Analysis: Cindric led five laps, and his 12 points earned for a 34th-place finish certainly isn’t the worst-case-scenario, but it’s never how a Daytona 500 champion envisions their day going as they seek another “Great American Race” crown. No. 2 has led double-digit laps in each of the past five Atlanta races, and you gotta figure, just playing the odds, he’ll break through to Victory Lane there sooner than later.
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action Sunday afternoon at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway for the Autotrader 400 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN Radio, HBO Max, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
After Tyler Reddick’s monster win in the season-opening Daytona 500, the Cup Series gears up for 400 miles at another drafting track where anything can happen. Part-time drivers J. J. Yeley and BJ McLeod will be back in action to make up the field of 38 cars entered for Sunday’s race.
