Following a crash-filled Daytona 500, NASCAR moves to Atlanta’s weathered 1.54-mile asphalt trail.
Most NASCAR drivers favor the monitor as the surface allows for racing in grooves. Tires wear out setting a higher importance on long-run rate.
Kevin Harvick won the first two phases at Atlanta, This past year, but a penalty allowed Brad Keselowski in for the checkered flag. Keselowski handed Kyle Larson for the lead with six rebounds to go for his first win of 2017.
All eyes will be on Georgia native Chase Elliott this weekend gets he looks to capture his first Cup Series win at his hometown track. Back in the No. 9 car, a number made famous by his Hall of Fame father Bill, Chase does have a fair shot to win according to last season’s numbers.
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Elliott listed two second-place finishes, seven top fives, and nine top-10s at 1.5-mile tracks in 2017. The Dawsonville, Ga., native also averaged the third-best average end of Cup drivers (9.82) on 1.5-mile tracks last year.
Ahead of Keselowski’s win Elliott’s teammate Jimmie Johnson was successful in two consecutive Atlanta races. Johnson, who possesses a Cup Series record 28 wins on 1.5-mile tracks in his profession, has five wins, 14 top fives along with a series-best motorist evaluation of 105.4 in Atlanta.
While Johnson has become the old king of 1.5-mile monitors, our pick to win Sunday is reigning champion Martin Truex Jr., that has been nearly unbeatable at intermediate ovals.
Truex won seven of the 11 1.5-mile speedway races last season with nine top fives for an average end of 2.5. He is still looking for his first win at Atlanta but we expect him to have the job done Sunday (if the rain holds off) despite starting from the rear of the area.