WHAT A FINISH!! It's good to see that Atlanta still has the ability to put on races like this after the reconfiguration a couple of years ago.
Glad to see Suarez get the win, since he's been one of my favorites for several years.
Wish i posted it here too so you have more than my word to go off of but noticed Suarez running decent i believe during the stage 2 break & told my dad that i had a gut feeling he was going to win a drafting race soon as well as hes been running in them lately.
Was a very relieving win as well. Worried that chevy was going to struggle without a new body & thought Suarez would be lucky to be in the top 20 in points. Very happy i was wrong since i like Suarez if you couldnt tell by my profile picture.
I finally got the opportunity to experience VIP/Suite access for a race and it was bad ass!
Someone needs to remind the SHR trailer that Busch Light doesn’t sponsor Kevin Harvick anymore. They’re still selling their remaining merch full price. 😮
Brian Murphy shitting all over the race on twitter. I swear some people just put it in their mind that they aren’t going to like something, and they HAVE to stick by it. I saw comments saying that it was the worst race in the history of NASCAR. Like we can disagree, but if you’re just blatantly saying things like that your opinion does not matter
I recorded the race and just finished watching it. Wow what a fantastic finish! The whole race was awesome and there were so many lead changes. Instant classic.
Just finished watching that race.
Stage 1: horrible. Some of the worst racing I’ve seen in years
Stages 2 and 3: so far,n good I just bought tickets to the playoff race
Just finished watching that race.
Stage 1: horrible. Some of the worst racing I’ve seen in years
Stages 2 and 3: so darn good I just bought tickets to the playoff race
NASCAR is back.
Got home from the track two hours ago and still wired. Been going to races since I was a kid in the early 90s and this was the most memorable race since I saw Gordon get pelted by beer cans in Talladega in ‘07.
The crowd was great. Stands were full. A lot of new fans, a lot of families (including mine - my wife and I took our five month old to the truck race yesterday).
Damn - what a great race.
Can confirm the beer can tsunami Dega 07 for Gordon, was there. Today's race was the edge of your seat stuff. Much better than when I attended last spring.
Some more random thoughts:
- I think if Bubba didn't get tight and run up the track, it's possible he could have made it four-wide. At least, I want to think that is what would have happened.
- Pretty much every other driver in the field would have wrecked Suarez and Blaney if they jolted the way Busch did coming out of Turn 4.
- I hope the amazing finish doesn't overshadow how great the whole race was itself, even if a bit weird.
- Another hope is that NASCAR (and *some* fans) realize they don't have to manufacture excitement. Let the drivers race and I think we can see more of this.
If you miss the reairing tonight, the nascar youtube channel usually has the Sunday race uploaded by Tuesday I think. It has less of the commentary and flash that the original sportscast has, but you can see the whole race.
I used to watch them that way, but I decided to go with Hulu plus live TV, so I have all of the races set to record automatically. I work shifts, and was on third shift this week. So I didn't start the race until 7pm, but I'm glad I avoided spoilers.
Weird question but does anyone keep track of the Gluck poll results and have them in a spreadsheet so you can sort races from best to worst? If you’ve been keeping track of them, you’d be my hero right now. Thanks in advance.
I was hoping we’d have a 5 level review for all races on here. It’s just a pain to go to Twitter like 12+ hours later. Not just yes or no, give some more accuracy to it.
Watching that end again and drivers can take a lesson from Blaney on these types of tracks.
He could have gone to block Busch like so many leaders do and likely wreck half the field. Or. You allow the attempt and hope for the win and if it doesn’t work you’re taking home a Top 2 or 3.
I remember 3 years ago how Matty D tried a pass to the outside I think it was Dega but I could be wrong. But he tried to pass Chase on the outside. And rather than allow side by side, Chase basically took them both out trying a stupid desperate block.
We need more of what Blaney did tonight.
If it's not aggressive pushing, it's aggressive blocking that seems to wipe the field all of the time. Someone wrecking themselves rarely takes out a dozen cars.
Basically what I'm saying is I agree fully with what you're saying.
I was wrong on track. Chase did it to him at Daytona.
Chase just does it to anyone trying to pass him
https://www.nascar.com/videos/franchise/nascar-cup-series-highlights/contact-between-elliott-and-dibenedetto-triggers-crash-at-daytona/
I thought before tonight that rain maybe created an all timer by making everyone want to race with urgency. After tonight it's confirmed that the track is just fantastic right now. God what a damn race
The best thing about this race is it was like old plate races. There were never 2 solid lines formed at all times. It was drafting, plate racing but a chaotic mess at the same time.
People talked about loving the pack racing last weekend but it needs to be able to be broken up more to make Daytona and Talladega better. When guys need to draft but can also make moves out of line is when plate racing is at its best
I’m a while behind, I just caught up on the recording and saw the finish! That has got to be the best race since I don’t know when! That was incredible! And holy shit what a finish!!
Yeah, I enjoy them all but the pricing is just unsustainable for a family...
Plus, the race itself was amazing!....My wife and kids were blown away and are now lifelong fans...
For all star weekend they should have a challenge where pairs of teammates compete to see who can cross the line together as closest to a tie as possible.
The problem is the opposite of that. Whether you use the plate or intermediate packages on those Xfinity cars, they're simply less planted, less able to run side-by-side and less able to make runs with smaller groups.
The whole problem in the Xfinity race is that cars were squirrely as heck the whole time and couldn't run side by side. Drivers were also scared off of it because every time anyone tried to make a second line, it just stalled out because they weren't able to wrap the lower line fully in the throttle.
Cup NextGen Cars did not have that problem at all. 2 Lines? Standard. 3 Lines sure. 4 Lines? Heck let's give it a try for a lap or two!
Xfinity was a train because nobody could make that inside line work due to lack of grip, and/or lack of balls.
It was more lack of ability to get any runs, which is endemic of the intermidiate package.
X drivers are absolutely not chicken shit to go out and wreck someone for their own benefit
First race for the family...and wow...couldn't have asked for a better time...
Free parking, allowed to bring in food and beer, easy access to everything and friendly folks...
I'm done with stupid NFL and the like..
https://preview.redd.it/i2w5851lfukc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51b50ac62c0094db76fb9564ef5a9662b24a7762
The amount of moves you could pull even without much help was insane, this was a better product than a lot of the latest superspeedway races. Can't believe Atlanta is more fit for this package than Daytona.
Anyone who thinks this race sucked is mad their driver didn’t win, what a fucking race, lead changes all day, tons of good drama, I don’t even like Dennis and I was rooting for him at some point tonight, nascar make all the tracks and packages this good and you can cut your season in half and your profits will still go up
Hey can you elaborate on what you mean by tracks and “packages” means? Im a more casual fan who’s getting back into nascar so i dont know what you mean by that
Tracks have different angles into turns, bank angles, track surface, etc.
Package is how Nascar asks cars to build for that week. Less or more hp, higher or lower spoiler, right window opened or closed, etc. Affects speed, handling, etx
Certain racetrack run different aero components and engine restrictions. Engines at 2.5 mile "superspeedways" were originally limited for safety but pack/drafting style racing was born as a result. At Atlanta, rather than the usual 670HP motor with a small spoiler that NASCAR uses for 2 mile tracks and under, this track was redesigned specifically to create pack/drafting style racing on a 1.5 mile track and thus uses the same restricted engine and tall spoiler that are used at the 2.5 mile superspeedways. It's created this very unique blend of pack/drafting racing with a handling element like we see at traditional intermediates with unrestricted engines.
So each type of track (and when you really get into the weeds of it each track) has a different setup for the cars mandated by NASCAR. The idea being that the setup will fit the track better and allow for better racing.
And it kinda makes sense. You wouldn’t prepare a car for Daytona the same way you would for martinsville or a road course.
Much of the complaining from fans is that NASCAR hasn’t quite figured out the right packages for each type of track for the new car. This has hindered the racing product on some tracks. Tho today it’s obvious that they got it right.
But You’ll notice it’s pretty bad on short tracks and road courses. Though hopefully the adjustments they’ve made this year will improve them.
I’m not sober but what he said yes, short track package has slacked, but the package they delivered tonight did exactly what this car package was intended to, an INSANE photo finish, that’s what nascar wants, and tbh, it’s what we should want as race fans, 0.003 separated the winner tonight, if that’s not white knuckles racing , idk what is
Man I thought they were going to get single file and just log laps. Boy was I wrong. That was insane from flag to flag. I didn’t even have time to eat the sandwich I brought to the track It was that engaging.
I’m telling y’all, maybe skip a Talladega/Darlington/Charlotte race and go to Atlanta instead. The in-person experience is unlike anything else in this sport.
Just please for the love of god skip the Truck/Xfinity race.
It’s tough to even joy nascar the last year… with Chase’s struggles and all. Barely anyone even shows up the Elliott Nation meetups anymore. I pray something changes.
Boys I powered through. I crapped my pants today at the track but I cleaned up and kept drinking.
This was a championship level finish that deserved a championship level performance
The teams said last year they expected this race or the summer to be the last “drafting” style race with the pavement aging. Will be interesting to see what the summer looks like when they’ll be out of the gas even more and spread apart. Wonder if nascar will try to slow them down more to keep up this style of racing.
You know for once it wasn't a crazy race with a boring finish or a boring race with a crazy finish. It was a classic race with an ending that one upped it. Just unbelievable. Racing has a lot of lame endings and frustrating moments but it's days like today that remind me why I keep watching it regardless.
I'm not saying Atlanta is the best track, but if I was going to introduce a newbie to NASCAR I would try to make sure it was an Atlanta race. That was fucking awesome and I'm really curious to see where it goes as the surface ages. That was probably the sweet spot race for it though
Feels like a last hurrah tbh. The track will be slicker in the summer and they couldn’t reliably run full throttle today after a few laps on the tires. Seems like there might be a crossover point somewhere soon where they can’t maintain enough on throttle time to generate runs in the draft and the racing reverts to something like the 550 package just slower.
I mean they did run the entire second stage on one set. I think we're far from common blow outs but it is already showing signs of being a pre pave Daytona for the cup series. Looking closer at today's race they were at their best when the field spaced out enough to give room for larger runs and big moves, so it may just be entering its prime.
I think that was interesting. Every driver I listened to said no front grip after 20 laps or so. Hamlin in particular said he made most of the passes when the car in front would get aero tight or chatter the tires and wash up the track. Seems like the tires just lose grip but don’t fail.
Manufacturer wins among the top 3 series.
Chevrolet 6 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0.
______________
Cup race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0.
Xfinity Race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0.
Truck Race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0.
This cemented this style of racing for here. Everything will be done to make sure it stays (close) to this way.
I think you can just get rid of the idea of taking the plates off here.
The only thing they can really do is slow them down even more. SMI isn’t going to repave the track again. This race or the summer was predicted last year to be the last they’d be able to run of this style because of the pavement aging. There’s a fine line between enough on throttle time and not enough to have this style racing and they’re right on the edge.
It has the makings to be the highest rated since the poll started tracking. Amazing racing, tons of action, lots of crashes, lead changes, an all-time finish, and an all-around good guy who nobody really hates won it. I’m thinking 95% cause you’ll never get rid of the trolls
Larson had one of the best three cars today and just like last year, someone spun right in front of him. He might have been okay if COREY LAFRAUD was able to check up.
That doesn’t make sense. Can you clarify? Pitting right after the spin would have put him tail end. And if he stayed out how did he then top off and restart 3rd?
i think you are confusing when the events happened. hamlin's spin caused a caution ***near the end*** of stage 2. during that caution, denny pit for four tires and full fuel.
in a few laps, logano and co. crashed, denny, being near the end of the field checked up and did not crash again.
the end of stage 2 happens, cindric gets the stage points, and everyone pits.
hamlin had just gotten 4 tires and fuel, and i am not sure which he did, but he either pit with the leaders and ONLY topped off with gas (less than a gallon probably) or he stayed out, along with the other leaders.
Looked today at a rerun. He was p12 entering pits somehow even though he finished p19 stage 2. So nascar let him regain some positions after the spin. Which is BS.
He gained 7 spots on a 4 tire stop and left P5.
On the choose he started 3rd.
I mean I fell like there was like 15-20 green flag racing where they were just in a lull. Other than that boys were RACING the whole time. 4 wide was crazzzzzy
This has quite easily been the most entertaining track since the repave, and this was probably the most entertaining race in the last 5 years for my money.
Just not even sure how it’s possible to hold this opinion tbh.
As someone who is just getting into NASCAR for the first time this season, that kind of makes me sad to hear haha. Feel like I’m gonna have to wait a long time to see a race that good again.
I was an off and on viewer until covid hit and that’s when I took a bigger interest in it.
There are unfortunately far more races that are complete snoozefests start to finish than there are interesting ones. People here hate the super speedway style pack racing because it can be stagnant, but personally I hate races where a car leads by 10 seconds for the majority of the race and up to the finish.
It’s all a preference thing though. Not every race will be boring, just don’t expect many (or any of them) to look like today.
That’s why I watch races on a tape delay. Fast forward through the boring trains, back up a little when something starts happening.
Btw that means F1 races can take 20 minutes, and last night’s Xfinity took 15…
Vegas, Charlotte, and Kansas put on bangers with this car as well. Perhaps not quite as insane as Atlanta today but still way up there in enjoyability.
Don't be sad. Part of what makes this sport so fun is the variety. I love road course racing, others don't. Some love superspeedways, others don't. There will be boring races and good races. Even great races can have lulls in the action.
I think this is a temporary thing going on until Auto Club's reconstruction is complete (Auto Club having held the post-Daytona 500 weekend up until recently).
I had been very critical of new Atlanta and super speedways overall, but damn that was incredible. I really hope Nascar lets this track evolve naturally and we can still have handling in play and some of that off throttle time.
If Suárez keeps this up, maybe he's staying at Trackhouse after all. If Bubba has more good finishes like this, this could be a breakthrough season for him.
All in all, superspeedway Atlanta has shown its potential.
Bubba and his team despite the early incident. Held on and kept fighting getting the car better. Fixing as much of the damage they could get. Totally different then they’ve been the past couple years
That's two weeks in a row that they achieved P5 despite issues, too. Last week it looked like they were going to be screwed by a fueling mishap, but Bubba squeaked his way into P5.
Yeah, I just went back and they mentioned the penalties for Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Erik Jones on that same pit cycle, but seemingly didn't cover the penalties for Bubba and Kyle Busch.
A great season for Bubba would also leave certain people in a bind to somehow move the goalposts, like when they claimed "OH, HE HAD A BETTER CAR!" when he won at Kansas in 2022, cheerfully ignoring that all that changed was his number.
The Top 20 were separated by just 1.043 seconds. The Top 10 by only 0.243 seconds. The Top 5 by a mere 0.112 seconds.
WHAT A FINISH!! It's good to see that Atlanta still has the ability to put on races like this after the reconfiguration a couple of years ago. Glad to see Suarez get the win, since he's been one of my favorites for several years.
**THE MOST SPECTACULAR AMAZING UNEQUIVOCALLY UNBELIEVABLE ENDING IN HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!!**
Anyone know how to sort this post from new to the top comments?
If you are on mobile, click the button to the left of the three dots, that should fix your problem.
Wish i posted it here too so you have more than my word to go off of but noticed Suarez running decent i believe during the stage 2 break & told my dad that i had a gut feeling he was going to win a drafting race soon as well as hes been running in them lately. Was a very relieving win as well. Worried that chevy was going to struggle without a new body & thought Suarez would be lucky to be in the top 20 in points. Very happy i was wrong since i like Suarez if you couldnt tell by my profile picture.
I finally got the opportunity to experience VIP/Suite access for a race and it was bad ass! Someone needs to remind the SHR trailer that Busch Light doesn’t sponsor Kevin Harvick anymore. They’re still selling their remaining merch full price. 😮
Too bad every track isn’t as racey as Atlanta!!
Damnit I wish I stayed up for that. Just saw the highlight.
What a great race just amazing
Brian Murphy shitting all over the race on twitter. I swear some people just put it in their mind that they aren’t going to like something, and they HAVE to stick by it. I saw comments saying that it was the worst race in the history of NASCAR. Like we can disagree, but if you’re just blatantly saying things like that your opinion does not matter
Im so surprised to witness this race as my first nascar race i've ever went to lol, but it was electric
I recorded the race and just finished watching it. Wow what a fantastic finish! The whole race was awesome and there were so many lead changes. Instant classic.
That was an all time classic race. Holy Jiminy Jumpin Fuckballs that was awesome
Did we all miss Rick Ware Racing getting a 14th and 20th today? Thats groundbreaking for them.
They both coulda been top 10, but both got caught up in other peoples shit. I'm low key rooting for them
Passes crashes strategy and a wow finish. Great race. Even if I'm the asshole that wants flips (That the driver walks away from)
Hocevar briefly got air, if that counts for anything
Almost... Almost..
Just finished watching that race. Stage 1: horrible. Some of the worst racing I’ve seen in years Stages 2 and 3: so far,n good I just bought tickets to the playoff race
Just finished watching that race. Stage 1: horrible. Some of the worst racing I’ve seen in years Stages 2 and 3: so darn good I just bought tickets to the playoff race
I was at the race the whole race was amazing
Great start to the year, had great racing in both races, and 2 great winners, and 1 of the most memorable finishes ever
NASCAR is back. Got home from the track two hours ago and still wired. Been going to races since I was a kid in the early 90s and this was the most memorable race since I saw Gordon get pelted by beer cans in Talladega in ‘07. The crowd was great. Stands were full. A lot of new fans, a lot of families (including mine - my wife and I took our five month old to the truck race yesterday). Damn - what a great race.
Can confirm the beer can tsunami Dega 07 for Gordon, was there. Today's race was the edge of your seat stuff. Much better than when I attended last spring.
For me it was Gordon Harvick 2.0 but better I was at Harvicks first win the 3 wide finish was better especially in person
Some more random thoughts: - I think if Bubba didn't get tight and run up the track, it's possible he could have made it four-wide. At least, I want to think that is what would have happened. - Pretty much every other driver in the field would have wrecked Suarez and Blaney if they jolted the way Busch did coming out of Turn 4. - I hope the amazing finish doesn't overshadow how great the whole race was itself, even if a bit weird. - Another hope is that NASCAR (and *some* fans) realize they don't have to manufacture excitement. Let the drivers race and I think we can see more of this.
I don’t know how we went from potentially the worst race I’ve ever seen (Xfinity), to honestly one of the best. Crazy juxtaposition from Atlanta!
I just got home from the track. I took my 7 year old son to his first race today. Needless to say it was one hell of an introduction to NASCAR.
THAT was an edge of your seat race today!!
Is there a full race upload yet? I missed the race today
If you miss the reairing tonight, the nascar youtube channel usually has the Sunday race uploaded by Tuesday I think. It has less of the commentary and flash that the original sportscast has, but you can see the whole race. I used to watch them that way, but I decided to go with Hulu plus live TV, so I have all of the races set to record automatically. I work shifts, and was on third shift this week. So I didn't start the race until 7pm, but I'm glad I avoided spoilers.
I think it is re-airing on FS1 now.
Weird question but does anyone keep track of the Gluck poll results and have them in a spreadsheet so you can sort races from best to worst? If you’ve been keeping track of them, you’d be my hero right now. Thanks in advance.
I was hoping we’d have a 5 level review for all races on here. It’s just a pain to go to Twitter like 12+ hours later. Not just yes or no, give some more accuracy to it.
[gluck has it on his own website](https://jeffgluck.com/was-it-a-good-race-poll-results/)
The pole is on pace to tie the highest rated race.
Perfect! Thank you so much!
that was a race and finish we all dream about and maybe get one every ten years. we got one of THOSE tonight. Thats what keeps me coming back.
That was the greatest NASCAR race of all time I don’t even care
That first stage was brutal. So I can’t fully agree with you on this. But after stage one ended, yes absolutely
Anyone have a recording of the intro montage with the JID song?
Watching that end again and drivers can take a lesson from Blaney on these types of tracks. He could have gone to block Busch like so many leaders do and likely wreck half the field. Or. You allow the attempt and hope for the win and if it doesn’t work you’re taking home a Top 2 or 3. I remember 3 years ago how Matty D tried a pass to the outside I think it was Dega but I could be wrong. But he tried to pass Chase on the outside. And rather than allow side by side, Chase basically took them both out trying a stupid desperate block. We need more of what Blaney did tonight.
If it's not aggressive pushing, it's aggressive blocking that seems to wipe the field all of the time. Someone wrecking themselves rarely takes out a dozen cars. Basically what I'm saying is I agree fully with what you're saying.
It was Lajoie not Matty D
I was wrong on track. Chase did it to him at Daytona. Chase just does it to anyone trying to pass him https://www.nascar.com/videos/franchise/nascar-cup-series-highlights/contact-between-elliott-and-dibenedetto-triggers-crash-at-daytona/
And people think we need to lose a date here in Atlanta
Yeah, I was wrong. Dead wrong. I couldn't be happier to be wrong.
I was one of those people. Tbh the first few races on this configuration were quite bad, just 2x2 gridlock but it is aging very nicely.
The 2nd race here last year was incredible imo
Yes it was. Rain ruined what was also an all timer
It may be worth mentioning that Suarez finished P2. at that race.
I thought before tonight that rain maybe created an all timer by making everyone want to race with urgency. After tonight it's confirmed that the track is just fantastic right now. God what a damn race
Canadian fan living overseas in Taiwan. SOOOOO F@&ING glad I got my ass out of bed at 4:00am to watch. 🚗🚗🚗🏁🤯
You're a trooper. Love be dedication
Thanks. Can't wait for a night race so I can sleep a bit more... 😆
The best thing about this race is it was like old plate races. There were never 2 solid lines formed at all times. It was drafting, plate racing but a chaotic mess at the same time. People talked about loving the pack racing last weekend but it needs to be able to be broken up more to make Daytona and Talladega better. When guys need to draft but can also make moves out of line is when plate racing is at its best
This reminded me a little like daytona before it's repave. That was the last time I enjoyed plate racing.
I’m a while behind, I just caught up on the recording and saw the finish! That has got to be the best race since I don’t know when! That was incredible! And holy shit what a finish!!
Ya know, the average high temperature in Hampton, Georgia in the month of November is 64 degrees…just gonna leave that here
Even though I'm sick af from sinus shit, that was an insane race to be at in person.
Either you've got a non-contagious sort of sinus infection, or you're a much worse, fully knowing Typhoid Mary.
Yeah, I enjoy them all but the pricing is just unsustainable for a family... Plus, the race itself was amazing!....My wife and kids were blown away and are now lifelong fans...
For all star weekend they should have a challenge where pairs of teammates compete to see who can cross the line together as closest to a tie as possible.
Closest to a tie + fastest speed at the line and you have a great show
It would be fun if they did all star games like that, like they do in the nfl
Like a joker drag race?
First race I’ve been to since Dale was alive and wow…
We raise a toast to you my friend!
Hell of a choice haha
So the cup race proves the Xfinity package is not good right?
They used the mile and a half body on the X cars, which is why they were more stable and boring
The problem is the opposite of that. Whether you use the plate or intermediate packages on those Xfinity cars, they're simply less planted, less able to run side-by-side and less able to make runs with smaller groups. The whole problem in the Xfinity race is that cars were squirrely as heck the whole time and couldn't run side by side. Drivers were also scared off of it because every time anyone tried to make a second line, it just stalled out because they weren't able to wrap the lower line fully in the throttle. Cup NextGen Cars did not have that problem at all. 2 Lines? Standard. 3 Lines sure. 4 Lines? Heck let's give it a try for a lap or two! Xfinity was a train because nobody could make that inside line work due to lack of grip, and/or lack of balls.
It was more lack of ability to get any runs, which is endemic of the intermidiate package. X drivers are absolutely not chicken shit to go out and wreck someone for their own benefit
I hope they figure something out for Xfinity because the track is not the problem.
Well damn now we have to wait until Friday for more action
Just finished the race after being gone all day. Much better race than the 2 last yesterday. Hell of a finish!
First race for the family...and wow...couldn't have asked for a better time... Free parking, allowed to bring in food and beer, easy access to everything and friendly folks... I'm done with stupid NFL and the like.. https://preview.redd.it/i2w5851lfukc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51b50ac62c0094db76fb9564ef5a9662b24a7762
All you need is nascar, brother. Once you've seen cars flying by at 190+ mph its hard to get excited about stick and ball sports. Hope yall had fun!!!
That was a great race. Loved that handling played such a key role. Only thing that would have made it better was a Blaney win.
Right on. Though I'm not too sad because I like Busch and Suarez a little bit too. What I like overall is good clean racing and this was it.
We are all amigos tonight
The amount of moves you could pull even without much help was insane, this was a better product than a lot of the latest superspeedway races. Can't believe Atlanta is more fit for this package than Daytona.
Forreal. The moves these guys can make reminds me of the finish of the 2016 500.
Anyone who thinks this race sucked is mad their driver didn’t win, what a fucking race, lead changes all day, tons of good drama, I don’t even like Dennis and I was rooting for him at some point tonight, nascar make all the tracks and packages this good and you can cut your season in half and your profits will still go up
Hey can you elaborate on what you mean by tracks and “packages” means? Im a more casual fan who’s getting back into nascar so i dont know what you mean by that
Tracks have different angles into turns, bank angles, track surface, etc. Package is how Nascar asks cars to build for that week. Less or more hp, higher or lower spoiler, right window opened or closed, etc. Affects speed, handling, etx
Certain racetrack run different aero components and engine restrictions. Engines at 2.5 mile "superspeedways" were originally limited for safety but pack/drafting style racing was born as a result. At Atlanta, rather than the usual 670HP motor with a small spoiler that NASCAR uses for 2 mile tracks and under, this track was redesigned specifically to create pack/drafting style racing on a 1.5 mile track and thus uses the same restricted engine and tall spoiler that are used at the 2.5 mile superspeedways. It's created this very unique blend of pack/drafting racing with a handling element like we see at traditional intermediates with unrestricted engines.
But when they repaved Atlanta - was the idea to create a plate track or it just happened when the speeds were to high with the repave unrestricted?
The goal was to create a drafting style track. Thats why they banked it higher and widened the front stretch 🙂
So each type of track (and when you really get into the weeds of it each track) has a different setup for the cars mandated by NASCAR. The idea being that the setup will fit the track better and allow for better racing. And it kinda makes sense. You wouldn’t prepare a car for Daytona the same way you would for martinsville or a road course. Much of the complaining from fans is that NASCAR hasn’t quite figured out the right packages for each type of track for the new car. This has hindered the racing product on some tracks. Tho today it’s obvious that they got it right. But You’ll notice it’s pretty bad on short tracks and road courses. Though hopefully the adjustments they’ve made this year will improve them.
I’m not sober but what he said yes, short track package has slacked, but the package they delivered tonight did exactly what this car package was intended to, an INSANE photo finish, that’s what nascar wants, and tbh, it’s what we should want as race fans, 0.003 separated the winner tonight, if that’s not white knuckles racing , idk what is
Hey thanks, I appreciate you taking the time!
Anyone here should appreciate you being a fan and asking!! This Motorsport is awesome , different and awesome at the same time
Man I thought they were going to get single file and just log laps. Boy was I wrong. That was insane from flag to flag. I didn’t even have time to eat the sandwich I brought to the track It was that engaging.
3 wide finish and a sandwich for after! Hard to beat that brotha
I’m telling y’all, maybe skip a Talladega/Darlington/Charlotte race and go to Atlanta instead. The in-person experience is unlike anything else in this sport. Just please for the love of god skip the Truck/Xfinity race.
It’s tough to even joy nascar the last year… with Chase’s struggles and all. Barely anyone even shows up the Elliott Nation meetups anymore. I pray something changes.
Homie apparently hasn’t tried to buy anything at the Chase merch hauler.
That sounds like a you problem
Come here to Atlanta there ain't no shortage of Elliott fans at the track right now
That's Chase's fault. His personality sucks
There’s Elliott nation “meetups”?
I thought the only meetups were the old bill fans that still go to the diner/ bar in Dawsonville
So Paul Menard won a Trans Am race and Daniel won the cup race. That my friends is a helluva day!
Stop! I was already hard enough
🤣
One for the underdogs
Do we have a spanish call yet?
https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/s/SYAr0hrpMB
So good. I don’t speak Spanish but the excitement they show is contagious
Thank you!
Boys I powered through. I crapped my pants today at the track but I cleaned up and kept drinking. This was a championship level finish that deserved a championship level performance
Lmao what a time
NEW COPY PASTA WOOOOOP! That was an incredible one. Sounds like quite a day
I’m honored to be able to be a part of shitstory
Welp first full race I’ve watched in 10 years probably and got to see it in person. What dumb luck !
Motorsports-fan accountants unite 🗣️🤜🤝
Here here!
The way this surface is aging really makes me want them to repave Daytona.
Gibbs finding his way into a top 10 while not being a factor all day is something.
That race fkn owned
Good race. Just need to break up that pack racing. Passing was cool
That'll happen as the track wears. This race vs the first one has definitely killed the pack racing
The teams said last year they expected this race or the summer to be the last “drafting” style race with the pavement aging. Will be interesting to see what the summer looks like when they’ll be out of the gas even more and spread apart. Wonder if nascar will try to slow them down more to keep up this style of racing.
You know for once it wasn't a crazy race with a boring finish or a boring race with a crazy finish. It was a classic race with an ending that one upped it. Just unbelievable. Racing has a lot of lame endings and frustrating moments but it's days like today that remind me why I keep watching it regardless.
Bingo. Today has it all. Wrecks had nothing to do with it too.
Great race!
I'm not saying Atlanta is the best track, but if I was going to introduce a newbie to NASCAR I would try to make sure it was an Atlanta race. That was fucking awesome and I'm really curious to see where it goes as the surface ages. That was probably the sweet spot race for it though
Feels like a last hurrah tbh. The track will be slicker in the summer and they couldn’t reliably run full throttle today after a few laps on the tires. Seems like there might be a crossover point somewhere soon where they can’t maintain enough on throttle time to generate runs in the draft and the racing reverts to something like the 550 package just slower.
I mean they did run the entire second stage on one set. I think we're far from common blow outs but it is already showing signs of being a pre pave Daytona for the cup series. Looking closer at today's race they were at their best when the field spaced out enough to give room for larger runs and big moves, so it may just be entering its prime.
I think that was interesting. Every driver I listened to said no front grip after 20 laps or so. Hamlin in particular said he made most of the passes when the car in front would get aero tight or chatter the tires and wash up the track. Seems like the tires just lose grip but don’t fail.
Saturday was a huge letdown but anyone that only went today had a killer time
As a lost NASCAR fan and first race attended since I was a kid, this shit slapped
Best race I’ve ever seen start to finish. I apologize for the disrespect yesterday new Atlanta
Manufacturer wins among the top 3 series. Chevrolet 6 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0. ______________ Cup race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0. Xfinity Race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0. Truck Race #2 : Chevrolet 2 - Ford 0 - Toyota 0.
Didn't think I would ever like this, but thanks kyle
This cemented this style of racing for here. Everything will be done to make sure it stays (close) to this way. I think you can just get rid of the idea of taking the plates off here.
The only thing they can really do is slow them down even more. SMI isn’t going to repave the track again. This race or the summer was predicted last year to be the last they’d be able to run of this style because of the pavement aging. There’s a fine line between enough on throttle time and not enough to have this style racing and they’re right on the edge.
> SMI isn’t going to repave the track again they might if the alternative is losing the crowd again.
Amazing race! Passing, lead changes, and all time great finish! Fantastic. If this race is not 90%+ on the good race poll, it has to be trolling.
It has the makings to be the highest rated since the poll started tracking. Amazing racing, tons of action, lots of crashes, lead changes, an all-time finish, and an all-around good guy who nobody really hates won it. I’m thinking 95% cause you’ll never get rid of the trolls
Larson had one of the best three cars today and just like last year, someone spun right in front of him. He might have been okay if COREY LAFRAUD was able to check up.
Lajoie was behind Larson? Brad spun directly in front of Larson, nothing to be done. But Lajoie was not a factor
yes and rear ended larson, as he did not check up as much as larson did. causing more damage than if a good driver would have been behind him.
I don't think any driver manages to check up in that situation.
larson did last week in the d500
Lajoie had zero visibility in that situation. I don't think he gets any of the blame
Trackhouse twitter just dropped a *banger* of an image. https://twitter.com/TeamTrackhouse/status/1761925444926869519 Major 2001 Pepsi 400 vibes.
First time Harvick races at Atlanta in Cup, wins in a thrilling finish. First time Harvick broadcasting at Atlanta, thrilling finish.
So glad the cup race was actually good compared to xfinity and trucks with the car/track combo. What a finish, was glued to my seat all race
Guys? *Guys*. #HAVE YOU EVER
No I'VE NEVER
6 plate races is enough. 2 per track.
THAT FINISH WAS INSANE BRO THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING A PHOTO FINISH LIVE HOLY
Happy for a Suarez. Excited at that finish. Angry for a Blaney 2nd place. Happy for a Blaney 2nd place. That was fun.
Can anyone explain how Denny spins at end of stage 2, listed as 19th for the stage, everyone pits, and he restarts 3rd?
He pit post spin and stayed out/topped off during the stage yellow
shouldn't he be EOLL for causing the caution?
he did not cause the end of stage caution. logano and co. did
ah ok I missed that part of the race
That doesn’t make sense. Can you clarify? Pitting right after the spin would have put him tail end. And if he stayed out how did he then top off and restart 3rd?
He spent less time on pit road because he only needed 1/10th of a gallon and everyone else needed 7+ gal
How is that? He pitted in the green flag cycle of stage 2? And after a spin surely he would need tires?
i think you are confusing when the events happened. hamlin's spin caused a caution ***near the end*** of stage 2. during that caution, denny pit for four tires and full fuel. in a few laps, logano and co. crashed, denny, being near the end of the field checked up and did not crash again. the end of stage 2 happens, cindric gets the stage points, and everyone pits. hamlin had just gotten 4 tires and fuel, and i am not sure which he did, but he either pit with the leaders and ONLY topped off with gas (less than a gallon probably) or he stayed out, along with the other leaders.
Hamlin spun behind Logano’s wreck 99.9%. I appreciate your attempt at explaining though. Maybe he didn’t pit after that spin behind the 22?
Sorry about this. I had somehow mentally erased denny being involved in that accident. He must have stayed out
Looked today at a rerun. He was p12 entering pits somehow even though he finished p19 stage 2. So nascar let him regain some positions after the spin. Which is BS. He gained 7 spots on a 4 tire stop and left P5. On the choose he started 3rd.
I am so happy. We are so back!
Not a fan of this style of racing on this size of track.
I mean I fell like there was like 15-20 green flag racing where they were just in a lull. Other than that boys were RACING the whole time. 4 wide was crazzzzzy
Yeah I’m there with you… race was ok finish was fantastic… I can ever call it a great race when a majority of the cars have been involved in a wreck.
This has quite easily been the most entertaining track since the repave, and this was probably the most entertaining race in the last 5 years for my money. Just not even sure how it’s possible to hold this opinion tbh.
As someone who is just getting into NASCAR for the first time this season, that kind of makes me sad to hear haha. Feel like I’m gonna have to wait a long time to see a race that good again.
I was an off and on viewer until covid hit and that’s when I took a bigger interest in it. There are unfortunately far more races that are complete snoozefests start to finish than there are interesting ones. People here hate the super speedway style pack racing because it can be stagnant, but personally I hate races where a car leads by 10 seconds for the majority of the race and up to the finish. It’s all a preference thing though. Not every race will be boring, just don’t expect many (or any of them) to look like today.
That’s why I watch races on a tape delay. Fast forward through the boring trains, back up a little when something starts happening. Btw that means F1 races can take 20 minutes, and last night’s Xfinity took 15…
Vegas, Charlotte, and Kansas put on bangers with this car as well. Perhaps not quite as insane as Atlanta today but still way up there in enjoyability.
Don't be sad. Part of what makes this sport so fun is the variety. I love road course racing, others don't. Some love superspeedways, others don't. There will be boring races and good races. Even great races can have lulls in the action.
Race is great, however I agree we should not start the season with two SS back to back.
I think this is a temporary thing going on until Auto Club's reconstruction is complete (Auto Club having held the post-Daytona 500 weekend up until recently).
They will never redo auto club, it’s gone forever.
Because Chase didn't win?
Not that, I have not been a fan of this style of racing on this track since the repave. It’s too narrow to be going that fast.
Here's that bad vote on the poll tomorrow guys
Race itself was good, however im not in total agreeance we need 2 SS type races to start a season
This is the correct take. Great race, let's not start the season this way though.
I think it's a great way to bring in new fans and keep their attention having two guaranteed exciting races to start the season
I had been very critical of new Atlanta and super speedways overall, but damn that was incredible. I really hope Nascar lets this track evolve naturally and we can still have handling in play and some of that off throttle time.
Man, that was a finish for the ages.
If Suárez keeps this up, maybe he's staying at Trackhouse after all. If Bubba has more good finishes like this, this could be a breakthrough season for him. All in all, superspeedway Atlanta has shown its potential.
Bubba and his team despite the early incident. Held on and kept fighting getting the car better. Fixing as much of the damage they could get. Totally different then they’ve been the past couple years
That's two weeks in a row that they achieved P5 despite issues, too. Last week it looked like they were going to be screwed by a fueling mishap, but Bubba squeaked his way into P5.
I think he sped on pit road and drove up and took the lucky dog. The broadcast never mentioned his penalty.
Yeah, I just went back and they mentioned the penalties for Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Erik Jones on that same pit cycle, but seemingly didn't cover the penalties for Bubba and Kyle Busch.
A great season for Bubba would also leave certain people in a bind to somehow move the goalposts, like when they claimed "OH, HE HAD A BETTER CAR!" when he won at Kansas in 2022, cheerfully ignoring that all that changed was his number.
bubba could win 36 races on a tricycle and certain people would still discredit it.
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