This Weekend in NASCAR – Atlanta Storylines

All three of NASCAR’s national series are on track this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Saturday will see the first-ever double-header with the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series both racing on the same day. On Sunday, it’s the Sprint Cup Series. Weekend storylines follow…

Daytona Drama: Hamlin Wins Great American Race By Closest Margin In Its History

Denny Hamlin provided viewers more drama in the closing moments of the Daytona 500 than fans have seen in the race’s history. Literally and statistically.

The No. 11 Toyota driver made a move from his fourth position with less than two laps remaining in Sunday’s Daytona 500, dove between Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., then beat Truex to the start/finish line by 0.010 seconds – the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the history of The Great American Race.

Hamlin’s MOV on Sunday also ranks tied for the seventh closest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.

Don’t be surprised to see another tight finish in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (1 p.m. ET on FOX). Two of the top-10 closest finishes in NASCAR history have been recorded at the Georgia track.

On March 11, 2001, Kevin Harvick beat Jeff Gordon to the start/finish line by 0.006 seconds – the fifth-closest margin of victory in the series annals. On March 12, 2000, Dale Earnhardt edged out Bobby Labonte at Atlanta by 0.010 seconds, tied with Hamlin’s Daytona MOV and Matt Kenseth’s Rockingham MOV (2/22/04) for the seventh-closest MOV on the all-time NSCS list.

Hamlin will attempt to join his teammate Matt Kenseth (2009) as only the second driver since 2000 to open a season with two wins. The Daytona 500 champion won at Atlanta in 2012 and claims the fourth-best driver rating there (97.2).

Hamlin’s Daytona victory virtually locks him into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He has three bonus points for the Round of 16 and can gain three more bonus points for each win he accumulates prior to the Chase.

Last season’s Daytona 500 winner, Joey Logano, followed up his victory with a fourth-place finish at Atlanta.

NASCAR Debuts Lower Downforce Aero Package At Atlanta

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will debut its much-anticipated lower downforce 2016 aerodynamics package.

The package is similar to the ones used at Kentucky and Darlington last year.

Lowering the downforce on a car makes it harder to drive, which puts more emphasis on driver skill and increases the potential for more passing.

Changes to the car for this season’s aero package include reductions to:

–       Spoiler – 2015: 6″ tall, 2016: 3.5″ tall

o    Air coming over the top of the car hits the spoiler, which pushes the back of the car down. A shorter spoiler creates less downforce than a taller spoiler.

–       Splitter – 2015: 2″ overhang, 2016: .25″ overhang

o    The splitter “splits” air and forces it to accelerate under the car, creating a high-pressure zone above the splitter and a low-pressure zone underneath that sucks the car down. Shortening the splitter reduces downforce.

–       Radiator Pan – 2015: 38″ wide, 2016: 33″ wide

o    The radiator pan is a flat panel that extends behind the splitter and under the car, deflecting air to create more downforce. A narrower panel is less effective in deflecting air, which slows airflow and creates less downforce.

Hometown Hero: Elliott To Make Sprint Cup Debut At Atlanta

Following a disappointing Daytona 500 debut where he finished 37th from the pole due to an early race wreck, Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chase Elliott gets to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at his home track – Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Dawsonville, Georgia native has made two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.54-mile track, finishing fifth both times.

Elliott embarks on his Sprint Cup Series career hoping to one day surpass the winningest Georgians in NSCS history – his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott (44 wins), Jack Smith (21) and Fonty Flock (15).

Five of Bill Elliott’s 44 wins came at AMS.

Chasing Earnhardt: Johnson Readies To Repeat At Atlanta, Tie “The Intimidator”

By visiting Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson would not only repeat at the track he won at last year, but tie Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time wins list with 76 career victories.

The six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion leads active drivers with four wins and 13 top fives at Atlanta. He also boasts series bests in average running position (9.0), driver rating (106.2) and average green flag speed (171.845 MPH) there. Additionally, Johnson boasts the second-best average finish among active competitors at Atlanta (10.1).

Joe Gibbs Racing Primed For Stellar Atlanta Showing

Joe Gibbs Racing started the 2016 season exactly how it finished the 2015 campaign – with a win, and a bunch of strong performances.

Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500, Kyle Busch finished third, Carl Edwards placed fifth and Matt Kenseth came in 14th despite leading 40 laps. Martin Truex Jr., of JGR technical partner Furniture Row Racing, finished runner-up.

Don’t expect JGR to slowdown in Atlanta. The organization excelled during the low downforce package races last year (Kentucky and Darlington) and gets to run a similar low downforce package this season beginning in the Peach State.

Last season, all four JGR driver finished in the top four at Kentucky: Busch (first), Hamlin (third), Edwards (fourth) and Kenseth (5th). At Darlington, three of them finished in the top 10: Edwards (first), Hamlin (third) and Busch (seventh).

Edwards is the top JGR driver at Atlanta. In 18 starts at the 1.54-mile track, he has three wins, nine top fives and 11 top 10s. His 100.4 driver rating there ranks second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Not far behind Edwards is Busch, who owns two wins, four top fives and five top 10s in 17 starts at Atlanta. He claims the fourth-best average finish (14.3) and seventh-best driver rating (92.8) there.

Kenseth has never won at Atlanta, but boasts the top average finish (8.6) and third-best driver rating (97.9) at the Georgia track.

Hamlin won at Atlanta in 2012 and has the fourth best driver rating (97.2) there.

JGR has won 11 of the last NSCS 20 races dating back to Busch’s victory at Kentucky last July.

Ty Dillon To Take Seat For Stewart This Weekend

Ty Dillon will take the wheel of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet in place of driver/owner Tony Stewart this weekend. He is also scheduled to pilot Stewart’s car at Phoenix and Auto Club. Brian Vickers will drive the No. 14 at Las Vegas.

Vickers wheeled the No. 14 in the Daytona 500, finishing 26th. Dillon competed in the season opener for Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing in the No. 95 Chevrolet and placed 25th.

Considered one of the top young drivers in NASCAR’s developmental ranks, Dillon has made his name in the XFINITY Series where he finished third in the final standings last year and fifth the prior season. He has made eight career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts with a high finish of 14th at Michigan in 2015.

Vickers returned to racing in Daytona for the first time since competing at Las Vegas last March. He had to sit out the majority of 2015 due to health problems stemming from blood clots.

Kahne Is Able At Atlanta

One of the more memorable moments spurred by the new Chase format was Kasey Kahne’s “do-or-die” victory in 2014 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – a track at which he excels.

Kahne is definitely a driver to watch for in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at the Georgia track. In 19 Atlanta starts, Kahne has three wins (his second most at any track), seven top fives and nine top 10s.

The No. 5 Chevrolet driver’s 262 fastest laps run at Atlanta rank second among active drivers.

Kahne’s owner, Rick Hendrick, boasts 13 wins at Atlanta – the most of any owner.

Local Legend: Logano Searches For First Cup Win At Facility He Starred At As A Youth

At the age of 9, Joey Logano moved from Connecticut to Georgia with his family to aid his racing aspirations and his sister’s figure skating career.

Logano quickly turned Atlanta Motor Speedway into his personal playground, winning the National Bandolero Bandits’ championship in 1999 and capturing the AMS Bandolero division championship in 2000. At age 12 (in 2002), Logano set a track record with 14 consecutive Legends wins – a mark that still stands. He captured the Young Lions championship the same year.

The No. 22 Team Penske driver is still searching for his first NASCAR national series win at AMS. He has struggled there with only two top 10s in nine starts, but finished fourth last season after winning the pole, and second in 2013.

Logano finished sixth in the Daytona 500.

Kurt Busch Leads Stewart-Haas Racing To Atlanta

Kurt Busch will attempt to tie Jimmie Johnson for the active Atlanta Motor Speedway wins lead when he goes for his fourth victory at the 1.54-mile track in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

In addition to his three wins, Busch claims five top fives and 10 top 10s in 24 Atlanta starts. He owns the fifth-best average finish (14.7) and driver rating (94.3) among active drivers at Atlanta. Busch kicked off the season with a 10th-place showing in the Daytona 500.

Busch’s teammate Kevin Harvick is no slouch in the Peach State either. He has one win, six top fives and 10 top 10s in 25 career starts at Atlanta, including seven top-10 finishes in his last nine starts there. The No. 4 Chevrolet driver has led 311 of 660 laps (47.1%) in the last two races at AMS.

In 2001, Harvick earned his first career win at Atlanta in his third race after replacing the late Dale Earnhardt. He beat Jeff Gordon to the start/finish line by 0.006 seconds – the fifth-closest margin of victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.

SHR’s Danica Patrick posted a career-best sixth-place showing at Atlanta in 2014, tying her with Janet Guthrie for the highest NSCS finish by a female in history.

Sadler Strolls Into Atlanta As NASCAR XFINITY Standings Leader

New team, new year and a whole new chance to become a NASCAR XFINITY Series champion for series standings leader Elliott Sadler, after he kicked off 2016 by driving the JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet to a top-five finish at Daytona.

Sadler joined JR Motorsports in the off-season, and in 2016 he is working with crew chief Kevin Meendering. In their first race together, the pair posted a fourth-place finish at Daytona – the highest finishing position for a championship contender. He is three points ahead of second-place Darrell Wallace Jr. and four points ahead of Sunoco Rookie candidate Brandon Jones in third.

Sadler is embarking on his 19th year in the series, but the veteran is focused on one thing – a title.

“I really feel comfortable where I am at,” Sadler said. “But as far as proving something? I just need to prove something to myself. Nobody has more fire looking at me than I do looking at myself. I have a little chip on my shoulder and I think every driver does. You want to win and you want to run up front.”

Sadler has made 10 series starts at Atlanta, posting one top five and five top 10s.

NASCAR’s Loop Data has Sadler ranked 10th-best in the series at Atlanta in two key categories: average running position (15.5) and driver rating (81.9).

No Sophomore Slump Here: Wallace, Suárez Start 2016 Strong

Two stars that picked up right where they left off last season are Roush Fenway Racing’s Darrell Wallace Jr. and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Daniel Suárez. Both drivers used the draft to their advantage last weekend and produced solid finishes in the top 10 at the “World Center of Racing,” Daytona International Speedway.

Wallace, from Mobile, Alabama, is now second in the standings just three points back from Elliott Sadler. He finished sixth at Daytona; his best finish at the 2.5-mile facility.

Wallace, 22, has made one start at Atlanta, posting an 11th-place finish last season.

Suárez has also reached a career-best position in the points, currently fourth, just five points back from series standings leader Elliott Sadler and two points back from Wallace in second.

The No. 19 Arris Toyota driver is coming off a Sunoco Rookie of the Year-winning season for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015. This season, he jumpstarts his title hunt with a career-best finish at Daytona (eighth).

Suárez only has one start at Atlanta. He started 21st and finished 14th last season.

RCR’s Brandon Jones The Early Leader Of The Hot New 2016 Sunoco Rookie Class

Richard Childress Racing’s Brandon Jones gives the old cliché ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ a whole new meaning.

The 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate blew the doors off the competition this past weekend finishing seventh at Daytona – 16 spots ahead of the next best rookie candidate. He now holds a five-point lead in the 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over second-place BJ McLeod.

Jones’ career has been brief, but the kid can wheel a car. In six series starts, he has posted one top five and three top 10s. He even led some laps at Kentucky last season where he finished fifth – his only start on a 1.54-mile track.

Jones, an Atlanta native, returns to his hometown for his first series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Current Sunoco Rookie Standings: Brandon Jones (15); BJ McLeod (10); Brennan Poole (9); Erik Jones (8); Ray Black Jr (7); Ryan Preece (6).

Koch Riding Momentum Of Career Best Finish/Points Position

Driving for the newly formed Kaulig Racing, Blake Koch piloted the No. 11 Chevrolet to a series career-best ninth-place finish, putting himself solidly inside the top five in points.

Kaulig Racing was formed by the owner and president of LeafFilter™ Gutter Protection, Matt Kaulig. Kaulig met Koch back in 2014 when he sponsored a car Koch was then driving for Go Green Racing.

This year, the two have paired up along with a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing to run for the series title. Koch currently is just six points behind series standings leader Elliott Sadler.

Koch has made five series starts at Atlanta, posting a best finish of 22nd last season.

Big Points Hole For Erik Jones To Climb Out Of

One of the early favorites to win the title this season is rising star Erik Jones. With all his recent success in winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title last season and also rallying off several wins in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, his natural ascension seemed almost certain. That was until this past weekend at Daytona, where he was caught in an accident involving his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte that relegated him to a 31st-place finish (second worst of his career) ultimately miring him back in the points (22nd-place).

Now facing an uphill climb in the standings, Jones will need to bounce back at Atlanta. Fortunately for Jones, he has made 11 starts on 1.54-mile tracks, posting two wins (Chicago, Texas), six top fives and eight top 10s. He has one start at Atlanta where he posted a 13th-place finish.

Jones is also running for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. He is currently fourth in those standings, seven points back from the leader Brandon Jones.

Atlanta Could Be Sight Of First Series Winner Chase Berth

The new NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase works much like the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – you win and you’re all but guaranteed in. This weekend could make Atlanta the first track a series regular wins and earns a Chase berth. Below is a reminder of how the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase works:

The seven-race NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of the races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.

The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will be crowned the NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES, Etc…

Paul Menard, Ty Dillon, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick are scheduled to compete in the NASCAR XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series races this weekend. … Seven NASCAR Next alumni will start at Atlanta: Ryan Preece, Darrell Wallace Jr., Daniel Suárez, Erik Jones, Corey Lajoie, Kyle Larson and Jeb Burton.

Sauter’s Performance At Daytona Earns New GMS Driver Spot In Chase

Johnny Sauter made a mad dash past Ryan Truex to the lead as the caution flew on the final lap to win last Friday’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

The win came in Sauter’s first race for GMS Racing and was also his first victory since his triumph at Michigan on August 16, 2014.

Sauter’s checkered flag virtually guarantees him a spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase – a seven-race playoff at the end of the season similar to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Last season, Sauter went winless after logging at least one win in each of his previous six NCWTS campaigns.

Ryan Truex, who led 14 laps, finished a career-best second. Parker Kligerman (third), Brandon Brown (fourth) and Travis Kvapil (fifth) rounded out the top five. The 2003 NCWTS champion Kvapil logged his best finish since placing fourth at Daytona in 2012.

On The Throne: Crafton King Of Intermediate Tracks

Matt Crafton is good at driving on 1.5-mile tracks – quite good. And that shouldn’t change this weekend, even if Atlanta is a bit longer at 1.54 miles.

In 16 of his last 17 starts at intermediate tracks, Crafton has finished 10th or better. Included in that stretch are six wins (2015: Atlanta, Kansas, Texas-1, Kentucky, Homestead; 2014: Texas-1) and three runner-ups (2014: Kansas, Charlotte, Chicagoland).

Crafton enters Saturday’s Great Clips 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (4:30 p.m. ET on FS1) as the defending race winner and the de facto favorite.

In 14 career starts at Atlanta, Crafton boasts one win, four top fives and eight top 10s. In his victory last year, he set the track record for greatest margin of victory (8.752).

Graduation: A Number Of Youngsters To Take First Intermediate Track Test At Atlanta

In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, drivers who are at least 16, but not 18 years of age yet, can only compete on ovals one mile or shorter, or on road courses.

Some of the younger series drivers raced on a superspeedway for the first time last week at Daytona. Now, they will be tested at an intermediate track (the hardest type of oval for a young driver to master) in Friday’s Great Clips 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Making their NASCAR national series 1.54-mile track debuts are NASCAR Next members Cole Custer and William Byron, along with Austin Wayne Self.

Byron finished 13th at Daytona, Self placed 19th, and Custer came in 24th.

John Hunter Nemechek, another NASCAR Next member who is scheduled to race on Saturday, is the youngest driver to win a NCWTS race at an intermediate track (18 years, 3 months, 8 days at Chicagoland in 2015). The only other driver to win an NCWTS race at an intermediate track when he was under 19 is Erik Jones (18 years, 3 months, 28 days at Las Vegas in 2014).

Georgia Boys Look To Put On Show At Hometown Track

Four Georgia natives are scheduled to attempt to qualify for Saturday’s Great Clips 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – John Wes Townley, Austin Hill, Reed Sorenson and Korbin Forrister.

Townley, of Watkinsville, won his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas last season and finished a career-best eighth in the final standings.

Hill, a NASCAR Next member, calls Winston home. He placed third in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last season on the strength of two wins and will attempt to make his seventh career NCWTS start on Saturday.

Sorenson, from Peachtree City, attempted to start his first Trucks race at Daytona last week, but did not qualify. A veteran of the NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series, he owns four XFINITY Series wins.

A native of Cedartown, Forrister has made 28 NCWTS starts in his career.

Red Horse Racing owner Tom DeLoach also returns to his Georgia roots this weekend. A native of Statesboro, he graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.

Daniel Suárez will run double-duty for the second consecutive weekend, wheeling his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR XFINITY Series Toyota before hopping into the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Tundra on the same day. Suárez is scheduled to run 293 laps in both races on Saturday.

source – NASCAR communications