On to Week 2 in the 2024 Cup Series, and we didn’t have to travel far. From Daytona, FL, up north a little bit to Atlanta, GA, the boys are preparing for a similar race, but on a smaller scale. After the repave a few years ago, the 1.5-mile track has taken the form of a Daytona Jr., so to speak, with progressional banking and big scale pack racing.
Here’s what to look for:
–Michael McDowell has secured his first Pole on his 467th start. That is a long time to wait — the record, in fact! He qualified 2nd for the DAYTONA 500 last week, one spot better today. McDowell has an affinity for pack racing; can he put his car in Victory Lane today, too?
–Joey Logano was the polesitter last year for this race, and led 140 of 260 laps. He’ll sit on the front row next to Michael McDowell — again — after starting P1 last week in Florida. Logano carries a 13.2 average finish over his last ten Atlanta starts. A late penalty to the #22 has him starting from the rear though; his gloves did not meet appropriate specifications. Who’d’ve thought!
-Over the last ten races, Ryan Blaney has earned more points in Atlanta than any other driver. He sports a 10.0 average finish with six Top 10s and a win. Things didn’t go exactly as he hoped they would in Daytona, but he’s got the ability necessary to right the wrongs of last week.
–Brad Keselowski scored the most points at the collective Atlanta schedule in 2023, finishing 2nd here and 6th in the Fall. He’s got his work cut out for him today; even though Fords occupy seven of the Top 10 starting positions, Keselowski will have to claw his way from 24th. He’s done it before, starting 19th and finish 1st in 2019.
–Kyle Busch is our highest starting Chevrolet (three in the Top 10, zero Toyotas), and he’ll see if he can parlay his success here from the Truck Series on Saturday into a Cup Win on Sunday. In 28 starts here, Kyle Busch has secured two Wins, the last coming in the Fall of ’13. Rowdy has seven Top 10s over his last ten starts here.
Coverage of the race from Atlanta starts on FOX at 3:00pm.
Roc Sports NOW 