The NASCAR Cup Series makes a return to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. This is the first time that the Cup Series is making a return to a track with the Next Gen car.
In the pre-qualifying inspection process the number 15 car driven by Garrett Smithley and the number 78 car driven by BJ McLeod failed twice. As a result of the infraction, both teams will lose a crew member for the race and their opportunity to make a pit stall selection.
After not having any practice, qualifying was originally scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, but Mother Nature dropped a rain storm in the area caused NASCAR to cancel qualifying. The Field will be set by NASCAR’s metric with Chase Elliott on the pole with the Watermelon Man starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Quaker State 400:
Chase Elliott
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
Alex Bowman
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
William Byron
Chase Briscoe
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Cole Custer
Kyle Busch
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kurt Busch
Aric Almirola
Ty Dillon
Justin Haley
Erik Jones
Austin Dillon
Harrison Burton
Todd Gilliland
Noah Gragson
Corey LaJoie
Brad Keselowski
Bubba Wallace
Garrett Smithley
Cody Ware
BJ McLeod
Landon Cassill
Stage one of the race is 60 laps with stages two and three lasting 100 laps for a total of 260 laps around the mile and a half track.
The new digital (camera) mirror in Erik Jones car keeps flipping to show the view backwards. He does have the traditional rear view mirror in the car.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start on the newly configured track of Atlanta Motor Speedway from the outside lane but it is Ross Chastain on the inside lane that gets out in front for the lead. Kyle Larson gets loose and several of the drivers had to check up to avoid a wreck.
NASCAR has called for a competition caution on lap 25 after there was no practice or qualifying due to bad weather.
Lap three, Ross Chastain has the lead with Tyler Reddick in second; Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Handling is an issue early for the drivers.
Ross Chastain reports that his car is very loose; adding that he thinks it will be terrible in “dirty air”.
Lap vie, Ross Chastain holds on to the lead with Chase Elliott in second and moving up to challenge the leader.
Lap six, Ryan Blaney blows past Chase Elliott for second.
Tyler Reddick passes Ryan Blaney for second.
Lap seven Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick battle for the lead.
Lap nine, Tyler Reddick and Ross Chastain continue to battle for the lead. Drivers get three wide on the track.
Lap 10, Ross Chastain leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, ,and Denny Hamlin round out e the top five.
Several of the drivers are reporting some major handling issues and being very loose.
Lap 14, Denny Hamlin powers through the field and has moved up to second place.
Lap 17, Ross Chastain continues to lead the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
After starting in the top five, Kyle Larson has fallen out of the top 20 with a very loose car. Kyle Busch started in 20th place and is now in the top 10 in seventh place.
Lap 21, Ross Chastain holds on to the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 22, Denny Hamlin passes Ross Chastain on the outside for the lead. Ross Chastain leads the inside lane.
Lap 24 Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin on the outside lane and takes the lead. Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain battle for second.
Drivers are three wide; Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain make contact but avoid a crash.
Lap 26, NASCAR throws the yellow flag for the competition caution.
All 36 drivers are on the lead lap.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for adjustments and fresh tires. Kyle Larson’s crew lifts the hood on his pit stop to fix a steering issue. Martin Truex Jr was caught speeding on pit road. Bubba Wallace had trouble getting into his pit box.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green falg restart and takes the lead on lap 31.
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott battle for the lead. Drivers are three wide back in the field.
Lap 33, Chase Elliott leads the race with Alex Bowman in second, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Kyle Larson reports that he is not comfortable with his car.
Lap 37, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and William Byron round out the top 10. Drivers are three wide on the track.
Lap 39, Kyle Busch passes Denny Hamlin for third; with Chase Elliott in the lead.
Lap 41, Kyle Busch passes Ryan Blaney for second; just a tenth of a second behind leader Chase Elliott.
Lap 43, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch battle for second with Blaney taking the spot and Busch falling back on the inside lane.
Lap 49, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin battling for second with Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five.
Lap 50, 10 laps remain in stage one, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney looking to take the lead.
Ryan Blaney passes Chase Elliott for the lead but Elliott comes back to retake the lead.
With eight laps remaining in stage one, Chase Elliott leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Bubba Wallace reports that he feels like something is broken in the rear of the car.
Six to go in stage one, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain,, and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 56, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott battle for the lead and are getting a little help from behind with a push.
Lap 58, the battle for the lead continues between Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney.
Chase Elliott wins stage one for his fourth stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chase Elliott
Alex Bowman
Ross Chastain
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Drivers come down pit road for service with Tyler Reddick winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Ross Chastain on the inside lane on lap 67 with Reddick taking the lead.
The top five are Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell.
Lap 70, Martin Truex Jr takes the lead with Christopher Bell in second; Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
All 36 of the drivers on the track are on the lead lap.
Lap 73, Erik Jones brushes the wall after getting loose but the track stays green.
Lap 74, Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Christopher Bell in second; Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 75, Ryan Blaney battle Martin Truex Jr for the lead with the two going side by side.
Lap 77, the side by side battle for the lead continues between Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr.
The caution flag comes out on lap 77 after a crash between Chris Buescher, BJ McLeod, and Ty Dillon.
Several of the drivers come down pit road for service with several close calls on pit road.
Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 84 and goes side by side with Christopher Bell for the lead. After a push from Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr takes the lead.
The top five are Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick.
Lap 86, Ryan Blaney battles with Martin Truex Jr for the lead but gets a push from Chase Elliott to hold on to the lead.
Chase Elliott passes Martin Truex Jr for the lead with Tyler Reddick in second; Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
Lap 88, Tyler Reddick battles with Chase Elliott for the lead.
Lap 89, Chase Elliott leads the race with Martin Truex Jr and Tyler Reddick battling for second; Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
Lap 91, the caution flag comes out for a big crash involving Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Martin Truex Jr, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Noah Gragson and Michael McDowell. Austin Dillon hit the safer barrier hard enough that it moved the wall. Dillon climbed out of the car himself and walked to the vehicle for the mandatory ride to the infield care center. Joey Logano’s car was airborne when he hit Martin Truex Jr’s car.
Austin Dillon is out of the care center and said he is fine.
After some of the drivers came down pit road for service, Harrison Burton is the new leader.
Harrison Burton brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ricky Stenhouse Jr alongside on lap 99. Stenhouse gets out in front for the lead with William Byron in second; Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 101, Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Harrison Burton battle for the lead with Burton edging out in front. William Byron comes up to battle Burton for the lead.
Lap 103, getting a little help from behind, Harrison Burton holds on to the lead with Todd Gilliland in second; Ryan Blaney William Byron, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.
The drivers who stayed out on the track are looking to make it to the end of the stage.
Lap 106, William Byron comes up on the inside lane and takes the lead; Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Harrison Burton battle for second.
The caution flag comes out on lap 108 when Chris Buescher blows a tire.
Kyle Busch is the last car on the lead lap fighting to control his car after being caught in the big wreck.
The top five are William Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Harrison Burton, Tyler Reddick, and Todd Gilliland.
Kyle Busch is back on pit road for repairs.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 111 from the outside lane with Ricky Stenhouse Jr on the inside. Byron and Stenhouse go side by side before Byron gets out in front.
The top five are William Byron, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Harrison Burton, Tyler Reddick, and Todd Gilliland.
Lap 115, William Byron moves down to the inside lane with Ricky Stenhouse Jr in second; Tyler Reddick, Harrison Burton, and Kurt Busch round out the top five. William Byron passes Kyle Busch to put him a lap down.
Lap 120, William Byron holds on to the lead with Tyler Reddick in second; Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Austin Dillon, Noah Gragson, Chris Buescher, and BJ McLeod are out of the race.
Lap 123, William Byron holds on to the lead with Tyler Reddick in second; Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 128, William Byron continues to lead the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
There are 29 cars on the lead lap with Kyle Busch in the “lucky dog” spot.
With 25 laps remaining in stage two, William Byron leads the race with Tyler Reddick on his bumper; Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Chase Briscoe brings out the caution flag on lap 137 when he spins out. A flat tire is shredding the right rear panel.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service. Denny Hamlin is on pit road after calling his car “pedestrian”.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 143 with Tyler Reddick alongside. After getting a push from Kurt Busch, William Byron takes the lead and works to block both lanes to hold on to the lead.
Lap 144, the top five are William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Kurt Busch, Christopher, and Ryan Blaney. Damaged car and all, Ross Chastain has entered the top 10.
With 14 laps remaining in stage two, Tyler Reddick gets a push form Ryan Blaney to get past William Byron for the lead. Chase Elliott is back in the top five.
Ten laps remain in stage two, Tyler Reddick has the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
In fourth place, Alex Bowman’s team notes that they are points racing.
With seven laps remaining in stage two, Chase Elliott battles Tyler Reddick for the lead and gets a large cheer when he retakes the lead.
Chase Elliott leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
With two laps remaining in stage two, Chase Elliott leads the race as drivers get three wide across the track.
The caution flag comes out for a blown tire that sends Alex Bowman spinning.
Chase Elliott wins stage two under caution for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chase Elliott
Tyler Reddick
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Blaney
Kurt Busch
Christopher Bell
Harrison Burton
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Corey LaJoie
Ricky Stenhouse Jr is on pit road with the hood up for an engine issue. Stenhouse has taken his car to the garage.
All of the drivers come down pit road for service with Austin Cindric winning the race off of pit road after taking fuel only.
Brad Keselowski has been charged with interference on pit road.
Kyle Busch is the “lucky dog” and back on the lead lap.
Austin Cindric brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Aric Almirola on the inside lane with 95 laps remaining in the race.
Austin Cindric edges out to take the lead with Erik Jones in second; Aric Almirola, Kevin Harvick and Justin Haley round out the top five.
Alex Bowman is out of the race after the “crash clock” expired. The crew had six minutes to repair the car and get it back on the track with at least minimum speed.
Erik Jones takes the lead as the caution flag comes out on lap 171 for another crash involving Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Cody Ware, Tyler Reddick, Ty Dillon, Todd Gilliland, and Garrett Smithley. Kyle Larson barely misses the wreck as the brushes by.
Even though they had just come down for service, pit road is very busy.
Erik Jones brings the field down for the green flag restart on the outside lane with Ross Chastain on the inside with 84 laps remaining in the race. Getting a good push from Austin Cindric, Erik Jones takes the lead.
Ross Chastain comes up on the inside to go side by side in a battle for the lead.
The field is two by two with Erik Jones and Ross Chastain battling for the lead, swapping it back and forth.
After a push from Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain takes the lead with Elliott in second; Christopher Bell, Erik Jones, and Corey LaJoie round out the top five on lap 181.
Christopher Bell gets loose and nearly causes a big wreck but saves the car.
Lap 183, Ross Chastain has the lead with Chase Elliott in second; Corey LaJoie, Christopher Bell, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
With 75 laps remaining in the race, Ross Chastain leads the race with Chase Elliott in second; Corey LaJoie, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 189 when Cody Ware and Kyle Busch make contact sending Ware into the wall.
Now in their pit window to make it to the end of the race on one load of fuel, the field comes down pit road to pack the fuel cell. Taking fuel only, Corey LaJoie wins the race off of pit road.
Corey LaJoie brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Elliott alongside on the inside on lap 194. LaJoie gets out in front for the lead with Chase Elliott in second; Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 199, Corey LaJoie leads the race with Chase Elliott in second; Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Ross Chastain comes up on the inside to battle with Corey LaJoie for the lead. LaJoie holds off Chastain.
Lap 201, Chase Elliott comes on the inside and passes Corey LaJoie for the lead. La Joie comes from the inside to passes Elliott. Chase Elliott comes up for a side by side battle for the lead.
Lap 204, Chase Elliott takes the lead but Martin Truex Jr comes up on the inside to try and battle for the lead.
Fifty to go, Chase Elliott leads the race with Martin Truex Jr right behind him; Kurt Busch, Corey LaJoie, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.
While his Dad Bill has won five races at Atlanta, Chase Elliott has yet to win a race in his home state.
Lap 219, Chase Elliott is wide open as he leads the race and tries to keep Martin Truex Jr behind him; Corey LaJoie, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
The field has gotten single file as the laps wind down; thre are 35 laps remaining in the race with Chase Elliott leading the race.
Dale Earnhardt Sr and Jr is the only father/son duo to ever win a race in Atlanta; Chase Elliott is looking to join his father Bill as a winner and join the Earnhardt’s.
Thirty to go, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second; Corey LaJoie, Ross Chastain, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. There are 22 cars on the lead lap.
Christopher Bell brings out the caution flag on lap 237 when he spins out. He comes directly on to pit road after making a run through the grass after almost saving the car.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service. Kurt Busch overshot his pit stall and had to backup. One of the tires comes off of Christopher Bell’s car and is rolling all over pit road and finally coming to rest against the pit wall.
NASCAR has reworded the loose wheel rule that states if the tire comes off on pit road, it is not an automatic four race penalty for the crew chief. Last week, crew members from Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace’s crews were swapped due to a loose wheel issue.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Martin Truex Jr on the inside with 19 laps remaining in the race.
Drivers go side by side on the track with Martin Truex Jr edging out in front from the inside lane.
Ross Chastain comes up on the inside to take the lead but after a push, Martin Truex Jr gets back out in front.
With 17 laps to go, Martin Truex Jr and Ross Chastain are side by side in a battle for the lead.
Chase Elliott drops down to the bottom to battle with Martin Truex Jr in a battle for the lead. Truex holds on to the lead.
Denny Hamlin gets sideways and brings out the caution flag after contact from Ross Chastain. Brad Keselowski spins out and makes a run through the grass trying to avoid the wreck.
Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart with just eight laps remaining in the race. Corey LaJoie will restart on the front row on the inside lane. With a push from Ross Chastain Corey LaJoie gets out in front for the lead.
The caution flag comes out with seven laps to go for Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano after contact form Christopher Bell.
Corey LaJoie brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with Martin Truex Jr on the outside with just three laps remaining in the race. LaJoie has led 17 laps so far today – the most ever in his career. Drivers are three wide after some on track contact with Corey LaJoie in the lead.
Chase Elliott comes up on the outside to take the lead to wild cheers from the crowd.
Chase Elliott takes the white flag, Corey LaJoie gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag. Cole Custer and Kurt Busch were also involved. LaJoie has a heavily damaged car.
Chase Elliott wins at Atlanta! He and his Dad Bill join the Earnhardt’s as the only father/son duo to win at Atlanta.
Chase Elliott is the first driver this season to win three races this season.
There are rousing cheers and lost of fireworks as the Dawsonville native climbs out of his car. And at the Pool Hall in Dawsonville the “sireeen” goes off.
The unofficial results of the Quaker State 400:
Chase Elliott
Ross Chastain
Austin Cindric
Erik Jones
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
Justin Haley
Aric Almirola
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Larson
Cole Custer
Bubba Wallace
Harrison Burton
Michael McDowell
Chase Briscoe
Todd Gilliland
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Corey LaJoie
Kurt Busch
Cody Ware
Landon Cassill
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Garrett Smithley
Ty Dillon
Tyler Reddick
William Byron
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Alex Bowman
Chris Buescher
Noah Gragson
Austin Dillon
BJ McLeod