NASCAR at Atlanta 2016: Start Time, Ticket Info, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
Fresh off Denny Hamlin's triumph at Daytona to start the season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series next takes to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.
Feel free to call the 1.5-mile trek around the quad oval one of the most interesting races of the season. Rookies, new faces in new places, veterans with history at the track and new low-downforce aero packages will make for quite the intriguing event.
It's a lot to digest, and these new elements collide at what is annually one of the more competitive races of the year while drivers work out new locales and teams. The latter is especially the case as the athletes get more control than ever with the new packages.
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While only the second race of the year, Atlanta once again provides drivers with a way to set the tone. Here's everything to know about Sunday's event.
Viewing Details
Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway
When: Sunday, Feb 28, at 1 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 45 |
| 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 40 |
| 3 | Kyle Busch | 39 |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | 37 |
| 5 | Carl Edwards | 36 |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 35 |
| 7 | Kyle Larson | 34 |
| 8 | Regan Smith | 33 |
| 9 | Austin Dillon | 33 |
| 10 | Kurt Busch | 31 |
| 11 | Ryan Newman | 31 |
| 12 | Aric Almirola | 29 |
| 13 | Kasey Kahne | 28 |
| 14 | Matt Kenseth | 28 |
| 15 | Michael McDowell | 26 |
| 16 | Jimmie Johnson | 26 |
Qualifying results and order available here.
Drivers to Watch
Jimmie Johnson
The defending champion of this event hit a few hiccups last week in Daytona.
Jimmie Johnson took home five checkered flags last year after getting off to a hot start in Atlanta, dominating most of the season before fizzling down the stretch.
Last week, Johnson stole the lead spot for a full 18 laps before his pit crew got hit with a penalty, which dropped the team out of the fight for the checkered flag.
Despite the disappointing finish in what should have been a top-five performance, Johnson took to social media to praise the field for strong driving to start the season:
Again, such a sound start is a tad rare, especially with new faces in the field and packages that alter how races unfold.
Alas, Johnson will look to take the momentum gained at Daytona in what was a bit of an adjustment period (or a warm-up) and do what he did one year ago, applying the lessons learned and besting the field at a track he's quite comfortable with.
Chase Elliott
The hype for rookie Chase Elliott died about 20 laps into the Daytona showdown.
Elliott went from becoming the youngest pole winner at the event to skidding into an irreparable wreck and ruining his day in a hurry. It was a vicious slide and smash captured by NASCAR:
Questions about grass on the track aside, Elliott also took to social media to talk about the day:
While disappointing, a freak accident shouldn't have folks down on Elliott. He not only got the pole, he also fended off Joey Logano and others at the Xfinity series event at the same location, leading 19 laps despite starting 19th.
Elliott isn't in a bad spot overall, though the headlines will focus on the wreck. How the rookie responds to the pressure of a hiccup will say a lot about his upcoming season, so keep an eye on No. 24.
Folks know all about Kyle Busch after the wild ride that was last season. The broken leg, medical exemption and epic tear to qualify for the Chase before taking down the whole thing.
Busch got off to an interesting start last week in Daytona, leading 19 laps but coming up short to finish third. Not the worst placement in the world, but a checkered flag would have been nice for a guy who missed a large chunk of this early schedule last season while he recovered from injury.
For his part, though, Busch is just happy to get out on the track in Atlanta, where he says the speed makes for one of the top events around, according to NASCAR.com's Kenny Bruce:
"It tends to get exciting (at Atlanta). For as worn out as the surface is, it's crazy how fast you go. Our qualifying times are going to be in the upper 190s, yet the surface is old and worn and you definitely will fall off on the long runs. That's one of the things that will weird you out – just how fast it is.
"
Busch won in Atlanta back in 2013, so it's not like he is a stranger to taking the quick track by storm and besting the field.
After a respectable start, Busch will use Sunday as another outlet to keep building momentum toward a stretch of schedule he had to miss last year. If his outing at Daytona was any sign, he's going to be in contention most of the way this year, with last season not just an inspired push under dramatic circumstances.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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