More Atlanta Motor Speedway News

Chase Elliott Blessed by NASCAR Gods at Home Turf, Remains Thankful to Exit Playoff Bubble

Chase Elliott ends a 44-race drought with a dramatic win at his home track in Georgia, piloting his Design to Drive paint scheme to redemption.
Chase Elliott

“Wake Up Brian France:” NASCAR Fans Unleash Fury as 23-Car Atlanta Wreck Leaves Title Favorites in Shambles

A massive 23-car wreck during Stage 2 of the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta wiped out title favorites and sent NASCAR fans into a frenzy.
crash and brian france

“What the F*** Is He Doing?”- Bubba Wallace Lashes Out at Kyle Larson’s Stupidity at Atlanta

Bubba Wallace voices his frustration over the radio as a block by Kyle Larson nearly takes him out of the race at Atlanta.
Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson

“BIG ONE!”: Denny Hamlin Wreaks Absolute Chaos in Atlanta With Uncanny Red Flagged Train Wreck

Huge NASCAR crash as Denny Hamlin triggers a 23-car wreck at Atlanta’s Quaker State 400, red-flagging the race on Lap 70.
AUTO: JUN 30 NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400

NASCAR Weather Update: Atlanta Race Red Flagged by Mother Nature

Light rain halts the Quaker State 400 on Lap 43, with Joey Logano leading and 39 cars on the lead lap, waiting for the race to go green.
HAMPTON, GA – MARCH 19: Fans watch a pack of cars enter turn four during the Ambetter Health 400 in the NASCAR, Motorspo

“I Can’t Catch a Break” – Devastated Katherine Legge Speaks Out After Atlanta Pile-Up Shatters Big Run

Katherine Legge's bid to bounce back from the Nashville disappointment ended in a big one at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Katherine Legge

Richard Childress’ NASCAR Driver Sparks Social Media Outrage After Expletive Laden Threat Goes Viral

Richard Childress' star's pit road outburst at EchoPark ignites fan backlash, drawing criticisms and comparisions with earlier incidents.
NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 – Qualifying

NASCAR National Anthem: Who’s the Famed MTV Singer Gracing Atlanta with Her Voice?

Here's everything you need to know about the pre-race dignitaries for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart in Atlanta.
HAMPTON, GA – MARCH 19: Fans watch a pack of cars enter turn four during the Ambetter Health 400 in the NASCAR, Motorspo

Tyler Reddick Sounds Alarm on Pocono Brake Fiasco That Doomed 23XI Racing Trio

Tyler Reddick exposes 23XI’s Pocono brake woes as Bubba Wallace slams NASCAR’s spotter safety risks at certain tracks
NASCAR: Daytona 500 Media Day

Denny Hamlin Takes Sly Dig at NASCAR’s Atlanta Reluctance With Bold Social Media Callout

Denny Hamlin lashes out at NASCAR’s qualifying chaos in Atlanta while 23XI Racing faces scrutiny from Kevin Harvick over dwindling speed.
NASCAR: Wurth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity Champ Fumes After Atlanta Mayhem Leaves Him Blindsided

After chaos visited EchoPark Speedway, Dale Jr's top driver Justin Allgaier dissects his harrowing and confusing experience of it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr

Joey Logano Draws Parallel With Vintage Daytona as He Dissects Atlanta’s High Stakes

Joey Logano compares EchoPark Speedway to Daytona, highlighting heat, tire wear, and pack racing ahead of the NASCAR showdown.
NASCAR: Cup Practice

About Atlanta Motor Speedway

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USA Today via Reuters

Atlanta Motor Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track

Atlanta Motor Speedway (in the past Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.5-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock vehicle races since its initiation in 1960.

The initial scenes of the 1980 film Smokey and the Bandit II were shot at the track, as were scenes of the 1983 film Stroker Ace; a 40th commemoration stunt show to recognize the 1977 shooting of the first Smokey and the Bandit in close by Jonesboro, Georgia, was held at AMS in 2017 and went to by Burt Reynolds.

The track was highlighted in the 1982 Kenny Rogers film Six Pack. Previous U.S. President Jimmy Carter once filled in as a ticket taker at the track and went to a few races there as Georgia's lead representative and as U.S. president.

History

The setting was purchased by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 townhouses were worked over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to normalize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two middle ovals, the whole track was totally remade.

The frontstretch and backstretch were traded, and the design of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with another authority length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the quickest on the NASCAR circuit. It has a seating limit of 71,000 - 125.000 relying upon design.

The track facilitated a NASCAR Cup Series race end of the week yearly on Labor Day weekend from 2009 to 2014. The 2009 move from an October race date to Labor Day weekend was likewise joined by an adjustment in start time, denoting the main NASCAR Cup Series under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the arrival of Labor Day weekend NASCAR dashing toward the Southern United States.

Different features of the facility are a quarter-mile track between the pit street and the fundamental track for Legends racing and a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) FIA-endorsed street course. In 1996, the speedway facilitated the Countryfest show, pulling in more than 200,000 fans.

For the vast majority of the 1990s and 2000s, the track flaunted the most elevated velocities on the NASCAR circuit, with a common passing lap speed of around 193 mph (311 km/h), first posted by driver Breton Roussel on June 22, 1990, and a record lap speed of more than 197 mph (317 km/h).

In 2004 and 2005, the likewise planned Texas Motor Speedway saw marginally quicker qualifying times, and as the tracks' individual racing surfaces have worn, qualifying speeds at Texas have gotten reliably quicker than at Atlanta.

2021 Race

Ryan Blaney won the race, driving a Ford. Kyle Larson led for 269 laps, but Blaney overtook him eight laps from the end because Larson's tires were wearing out.

With Blaney’s win, NASCAR had its sixth different champion in its first six races of 2021.

Quick Facts

LocationHenry County, Georgia, at 1500 Tara Place Hampton, GA, 30228
OperatorSpeedway Motorsports, Inc.
Major EventsNASCAR Cup Series

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Quaker State 400

NASCAR Xfinity Series

EchoPark 250

TBA

NASCAR Camping World Truck

Series Fr8Auctions 200

Atlanta Track Club

Atlanta Marathon

Length1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Most WinsDale Earnhardt (9)
Most StartsRichard Petty (65)
PolesBuddy Baker, Ryan Newman (7)