GFT Facts & Stats Friday: NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
6 September 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
HAMPTON, GA — Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts Race 1 of the 10-race 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The last time the NASCAR Cup Series came to Atlanta Motor Speedway, it set the closest top-three finish in series history, with Daniel Suarez scantly beating Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch to the line in a photo-finish for the ages.
Now, with all the mounting pressures of the Playoffs, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the 1.54-mile track to break-open the postseason with some high-speed, close drafting action in this Sunday’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart.
NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sunday, September 8–3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $7,801,384
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400.4 miles (260 laps)
— Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60)
— Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 160)
— Final Stage (Ends on Lap 260)
Track Facts
Track Length: 1.54 Miles
Race 1 Length: 500.5 Miles (325 Laps)
Race 2 Length: 400.4 (260 laps)
Grandstand Seating Capacity: 71,000
First Race: July 31, 1960 — Dixie 300
Banking: 28 degrees in corners, 5 degrees on straights
Frontstretch: 2,332 feet
Backstretch: 1,800 feet
Qualifying & Race Records
Qualifying: Geoffrey Bodine, Ford, 197.478 mph (28.074 sec.); Nov. 15, 1997
Race: Bobby Labonte, Pontiac, 159.904 mph (3:07:48); Nov. 16, 1997
Track Records
Most Wins: 9 — Dale Earnhardt
Most Poles: 7 — Buddy Baker, Ryan Newman
Most Top Fives: 26 — Dale Earnhardt
Most Top 10s: 33 — Richard Petty
Analyzing the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart
ATLANTA-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
(The following driver stats are from the Loop Data Era — 2005-Present)
1 — Kyle Larson (№5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.3
2024 Rundown
· Four wins, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s, five poles
· Led 1,089 laps
· Average Finish of 13.6
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, four top 10s
· Average Finish of 18.846, 20th-best
· Average Running Position of 13.051, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 87.4, eighth-best
· 2,491 Laps in the Top 15 (64.9%), seventh-most
2 — Christopher Bell (№20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.4
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s, one pole
· Led 721 laps
· Average Finish of 15
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average Finish of 18.625, 19th-best
· Average Running Position of 16.718, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 73.9, 13th-best
· 1,055 Laps in the Top 15 (48.0%), 13th-most
3 — Tyler Reddick (№45 23XI Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.1
2024 Rundown
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s, two poles
· Led 473 laps
· Average Finish of 11.2
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average Finish of 20.875, 28th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.496, 18th-best
· Driver Rating of 73.3, 14th-best
· 896 Laps in the Top 15 (40.7%), 18th-most
4 — William Byron (№24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.1
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s, one pole
· Led 259 laps
· Average Finish of 14.6
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, two top fives, three top 10s
· Average Finish of 17.700, 16th-best
· Average Running Position of 16.537, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 80.6, 10th-best
· 1,392 Laps in the Top 15 (48.8%), 11th-most
5 — Ryan Blaney (№12 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4
2024 Rundown
· Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s, one pole
· Led 430 laps
· Average Finish of 15.8
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One win, five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average Finish of 10.583, series-best
· Average Running Position of 9.595, series-best
· Driver Rating of 99.1, second-best
· 2,845 Laps in the Top 15 (81.2%), series-most
6 — Denny Hamlin (№11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.1
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s, four poles
· Led 917 laps
· Average Finish of 15
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s, one pole
· Average Finish of 17.071, 12th-best
· Average Running Position of 11.479, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.7, fourth-best
· 6,367 Laps in the Top 15 (72.8%), sixth-most
7 — Chase Elliott (№9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.9
2024 Rundown
· One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
· Led 213 laps
· Average Finish of 11.6
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One win, two top fives, seven top 10s
· Average Finish of 11.818, third-best
· Average Running Position of 11.550, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.8, fifth-best
· 2,500 Laps in the Top 15 (77.0%), third-most
8 — Brad Keselowski (№6 RFK Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.3
2024 Rundown
· One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
· Led 134 laps
· Average Finish of 14.1
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average Finish of 14.947, eighth-best
· Average Running Position of 11.833, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.1, seventh-best
· 4,281 Laps in the Top 15 (73.7%), fifth-most
9 — Joey Logano (№22 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.6
2024 Rundown
· One win, four top fives, eight top 10s, three poles
· Led 264 laps
· Average Finish of 18.3
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, seven top 10s, two poles
· Average Finish of 16.571, 11th-best
· Average Running Position of 14.685, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.1, ninth-best
· 3,829 Laps in the Top 15 (59.2%), ninth-most
10 — Austin Cindric (№2 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 64.6
2024 Rundown
· One win, two top fives, three top 10s
· Led 135 laps
· Average Finish of 20.6
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, two top 10s,
· Average Finish of 14.000, fifth-best
· Average Running Position of 14.546, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 80.2, 11th-best
· 871 Laps in the Top 15 (53.9%), 10th-most
11 — Daniel Suárez (№99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 63.8
2024 Rundown
· One win, two top fives, six top 10s
· Led 143 laps
· Average Finish of 18.3
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, five top 10s
· Average Finish of 15.636, 10th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.326, 16th-best
· Driver Rating of 71.0, 17th-best
· 1,531 Laps in the Top 15 (48.2%), 12th-most
12 — Alex Bowman (№48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 76.8
2024 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s
· Led 14 laps
· Average Finish of 15.4
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, three top 10s
· Average Finish of 18.417, 18th-best
· Average Running Position of 17.896, 14th-best
· Driver Rating of 76.1, 12th-best
· 1,608 Laps in the Top 15 (45.8%), 14th-most
13 — Chase Briscoe (№14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 70.5
2024 Rundown
· One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
· Led 43 laps
· Average Finish of 17.4
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two top 15s
· Average Finish of 20.857, 27th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.676, 19th-best
· Driver Rating of 64.3, 24th-best
· 635 Laps in the Top 15 (33.9%), 22nd-most
14 — Harrison Burton (№21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 46.8
2024 Rundown
· One win, one top five, two top 10s
· Led 13 laps
· Average Finish of 25.7
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· One top 10
· Average Finish of 21.600, 31st-best
· Average Running Position of 22.975, 31st-best
· Driver Rating of 54.4, 34th-best
· 369 Laps in the Top 15 (28.6%), 27th-most
15 — Ty Gibbs (№54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.4
2024 Rundown
· Seven top fives, 11 top 10s, two poles
· Led 352 laps
· Average Finish of 14.7
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Two top 10s
· Average Finish of 17.667, 15th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.038, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 72.5, 15th-best
· 293 Laps in the Top 15 (41.6%), 16th-most
16 — Martin Truex Jr. (№19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.6
2024 Rundown
· Four top fives, nine top 10s
· Led 489 laps
· Average Finish of 17
Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
· Six top fives, 13 top 10s, one pole
· Average Finish of 14.714, seventh-best
· Average Running Position of 10.734, third-best
· Driver Rating of 94.9, third-best
· 6,915 Laps in the Top 15 (79.1%), second-most
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Outlook Following Darlington
The 16-driver Cup Series Playoff field was set last weekend in the regular season finale at Darlington Raceway, and in impressive fashion Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe won the race earning his spot in the postseason, joining Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Daniel Saurez and Alex Bowman as the drivers that won their way into the Playoffs this season. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs grabbed the final two postseason spots on points.
All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track action gets underway this weekend with Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Quick Rundown: NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Format
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs format is competed over the final 10 races and includes 16 drivers and four rounds — the Round of 16, the Round of 12, the Round of 8 and the Championship 4 Round.
An overview:
- A victory in the first 26 races all but guarantees a berth in the 10-race Playoffs.
- The number of Playoff drivers in contention for the championship will decrease after every three Playoff races, from 16 to start; 12 after race №3; eight after race №6; and four after race №9.
- The first three races (27–29) will be known as the Round of 16; races 30–32 will be known as the Round of 12; races 33–35 will be Round of 8; and race №36 will be the Championship 4 Round.
- A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Playoff race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next Playoff round.
- Four drivers will enter the Championship Race with a chance at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Eligibility For The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
- The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the Playoffs — provided they have attempted to qualify for every race (except in rare instances).
- The 16th Playoff position will go to the points leader after race №26 if he/she does not have a victory. In the event that there are 16 or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who can earn a Playoff spot would be the points leader after 26 races.
- If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races, the remaining Playoff positions will go to those winless drivers highest in points. If there are 16 or more winners in the first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins, followed by points.
- Prior to the start of the Playoffs, all Playoff drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with all Playoff points added to their total. Those Playoff points will stay with the driver as long as he/she remains in the Playoffs (except for the Championship 4 Round race).
Playoff Structure
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are an elimination-style format that is broken up into four rounds. After the third Playoff race, there will be 12 drivers. After the sixth Playoff race, the field will drop to eight drivers, and following the ninth Playoff race, only four drivers will remain in championship contention.
- Round of 16: The first round (races 27–29 at Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Bristol) is the Round of 16. If a Playoff driver wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Round of 12). The remaining available positions 1–12 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each driver will then have their points reset to 3,000, with any awarded Playoff points added.
- Round of 12: The second round (races 30–32 at Kansas, Talladega, Charlotte RC) is the Round of 12. Likewise, if a driver in the top 12 in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Round of 8). The remaining available positions 1–8 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each driver will then have their points reset to 4,000, with any awarded Playoff points added.
- Round of 8: The third round (races 33–35 at Las Vegas, Homestead-Miami, Martinsville) is the Round of 8. If a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Championship 4). The remaining available positions 1–4 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 5,000.
- Additionally, drivers who are eliminated in the Round of 16, Round of 12 and Round of 8 will have their points readjusted. Each eliminated driver will return to the Playoff-start base of 2,000 with any awarded Playoff points and any accumulated points starting with race №27 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-16th still up for grabs.
Championship Finale
- The 36th and final race of the season will be the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, which will feature the Championship 4 Round. Simply stated, the highest finisher in that race among the remaining four eligible drivers will win the NASCAR Cup Series title.
- Playoff points for stage wins will not apply in the season finale, so the official finishing position alone will decide the champion.
- Note: All rules outlined above also apply to the owner championship structure.
Since the inception of the postseason in 2004, 49 different drivers have qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; including this season’s 16-driver field.
Two drivers this season are making their Playoff career debuts in the NASCAR Cup Series — Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs.
Veteran Denny Hamlin is making his NASCAR Cup Series record 18th Playoff appearance — the most all-time.
Six former NASCAR Cup Series Champions have qualified for the Playoffs this season — Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr.
A total of eight different organizations are represented in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoffs — Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, RFK Racing, Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, Team Penske, Wood Brothers Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing.
All three NASCAR Cup Series official engine manufacturers have qualified for the Playoffs as well, led by Ford with six entries into the postseason, followed by Chevrolet and Toyota with five each.
This weekend, eight of the 49 NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway race winners are entered in the event.
Seven of the eight active NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway winners this weekend are Playoff drivers this season.
Below The Cutline: Who is making it out of the first round?
Following the reseeding of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff point standings at the end of the regular season, four drivers find themselves below the next round’s (Round of 12) cutline in the standings — Chase Briscoe, Harrison Burton, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs. So, who has the best stats of the four at the next three tracks?
Chase Briscoe
Atlanta: Has made seven series starts at Atlanta posting a best finish of 15th (2022).
Watkins Glen: Has made three series starts at Watkins Glen posting one top-10 finish.
Bristol: Has made four series starts at Bristol posting two top-15 finishes.
Harrison Burton
Atlanta: Has made five series starts at Atlanta posting one top-10 finish.
Watkins Glen: Has made two series starts at Watkins Glen posting a best finish of 28th (2022).
Bristol: Has made three series starts at Bristol posting a best finish of 16th (2022).
Martin Truex Jr.
Atlanta: Has made 29 series starts at Atlanta posting six top fives and 13 top 10s.
Watkins Glen: Has made 17 series starts at Watkins Glen collecting one win, seven top fives and 11 top 10s.
Bristol: Has made 34 series starts at Bristol putting up three top fives and five top 10s.
Ty Gibbs
Atlanta: Has made three series starts at Atlanta posting two top-10 finishes.
Watkins Glen: Has made two series starts at Watkins Glen posting one top-five finish.
Bristol: Has made three series starts at Bristol putting up one top five and two top 10s.
GFT NASCAR BOX SCORES
After 26 Races …
Manufactures Box Score:
Chevrolet = 11
Toyota = 8
Ford = 7
Team Box Score:
Hendrick Motorsports = 9
Driver Box Score:
Kyle Larson = 4 wins
GFT AI NASCAR Fantasy LIVE — back in the top 15%
Our models scored 185 points at Darlington, with the GFT AI model remaining in the top 15% of all players (14.3%) in the TMD NASCAR Fantasy Live League.
Initial GFT NASCAR Fantasy Live Picks for Atlanta
**NOTE** Be sure to follow us on X (aka Twitter) to see the updated GFT NASCAR Fantasy Live picks AFTER our AI models ingest the Practice and Qualifying data. For a Sunday race, this usually happens overnight Saturday and is published Sunday morning at least 2 hours before the green flag.
