Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, going into the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 on March 20 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Atlanta Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 5 of 36 (03-20-22)
Track Size: 1.54-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 28 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch & Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,332 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,800 feet
Race Length: 325 laps / 500.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2: 105 Laps (each)
Final Stage: 115 Laps
Atlanta Motor Speedway:
HISTORY
Originally called Atlanta International Raceway, the track was then a 1.5-mile paved speedway.The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta was on July 31, 1960, won by Fireball Roberts from the pole position.The track was re-measured to 1.522 miles in the spring of 1970.It was renamed Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1990.The track layout was reversed, and the track was re-configured to 1.54 miles between the two races in 1997.From 1960 — 2010, Atlanta Motor Speedway hosted multiple NASCAR Cup Series races during each season; starting in 2011 the series began only visiting Atlanta once a year (2011-2020). Last season marked the first time since 2010, the series visited the facility more than once a season.From 1987 to 2000 Atlanta Motor Speedway held the final championship race of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.In 2021, Atlanta Motor Speedway underwent a transformation starting shortly after the checkered flag on July 11. Over the course of five months, the speedway was reconfigured, sporting steeper 28-degree banked corners, new drainage technology, and brand-new asphalt.In total, there have been 115 NASCAR Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway since the first race there in 1960.
STARTS
A total of 589 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway; 403 have competed in more than one at Atlanta.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway with 65; followed by Bill Elliott (62) and Dave Marcis (59).Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers in NASCAR Cup Series starts at Atlanta with 32 starts; followed by Kurt Busch with 31.A total of 67 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have made their series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway.Three active NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted their first career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Martin Truex Jr. (10/31/2004), Ty Dillon (8/31/2015) and Cody Ware (3/5/2017).The best finish by a driver making their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway was runner-up by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace on March 16, 1980.Fred Lorenzen leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a 4.105 in 19 starts.Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Atlanta with a 8.000 in 13 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Atlanta (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Fred Lorenzen4.105191Kyle Larson8.000132Fireball Roberts4.500102Daniel Suarez10.00083Cotton Owens5.00023Denny Hamlin10.913284Earl Balmer5.50044Kyle Busch11.042295Dick Hutcherson5.80055Ricky Stenhouse Jr11.400156Banjo Matthews6.50066Chase Elliott13.000127Joe Weatherly7.00097Christopher Bell13.00088Nelson Stacy7.50068Greg Biffle13.636239Kyle Larson8.000139Brad Keselowski14.1431910Junior Johnson8.3851310Martin Truex Jr14.41729
POLES
A total of 53 different drivers have won at least one pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, 24 have posted more than one.Nine of the 53 NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.Active Pole Winners (9)PolesSeasonKevin Harvick22017, 2014Aric Almirola12019Kyle Busch12018Kurt Busch12016Joey Logano12015Ricky Stenhouse Jr12013Denny Hamlin12010Martin Truex Jr12009Greg Biffle12007Buddy Baker (1968, 1971, 1976, 1979 sweep, 1980, 1984) and Ryan Newman (2003 sweep, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2007) are tied for the NASCAR Cup Series most poles at Atlanta Motor Speedway with seven each.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Atlanta poles with two (2014, 2017).Fireball Roberts won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Award at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1960 with a speed of 133.870 mph in a Pontiac.Youngest Atlanta pole winner: Terry Labonte (03/15/1981 — 24 years, 3 months, 27 days).Oldest Atlanta pole winner: Harry Gant (11/14/1993 — 53 years, 10 months, 4 days).Ryan Newman holds the record for most consecutive poles at Atlanta with six; from the spring of 2003 through 2005.Winning consecutive poles has happened 10 times at Atlanta in the NASCAR Cup Series, among six different drivers:Fireball Roberts (1960 sweep, 1961 second & third race),Cale Yarborough (1969, 1970, 1978 sweep),Dave Marcis (1975, 1976),Buddy Baker (1979 sweep, 1980),Alan Kulwicki (1989 sweep),Ryan Newman (2003 sweep, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep).A total of nine drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway.DriversDateRicky Stenhouse JrSunday, September 1, 2013Kevin LepageSunday, November 21, 1999Kenny Irwin JrSunday, November 8, 1998Robby GordonSunday, March 9, 1997Johnny BensonSunday, March 10, 1996Rick MastSunday, November 15, 1992Terry LabonteSunday, March 15, 1981Sam SommersSunday, November 6, 1977Cale YarboroughSunday, April 2, 1967A total of 40 different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway.Seven of the 40 organizations that have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta are active this weekend. Active OrganizationsPolesWood Brothers Racing9Team Penske9Hendrick Motorsports5Stewart-Haas Racing5RFK Racing4Joe Gibbs Racing4Richard Childress Racing3Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske lead the series in poles at Atlanta with nine each.Wood Brothers Racing: Marvin Panch (1963, 1965); Cale Yarborough (1967, 1969, 1970); A.J. Foyt (1971); David Pearson (1972, 1974); Buddy Baker (1984).Team Penske: Rusty Wallace (1993), Ryan Newman (2003 sweep, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2007), Joey Logano (2015).A total of nine different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway, led by Ford with 30 poles; followed by Chevrolet (25), Dodge (18), Pontiac (16), Mercury (7), Oldsmobile (5), Toyota (3), Buick (2) and Plymouth (1).
WINS
A total of 45 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 25 have won more than one at Atlanta.Six of the 45 NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway race winners are active this weekend.Active Race WinnersWinsSeasonsKurt Busch42021, 2010, 2009, 2002Kevin Harvick32020, 2018, 2001Brad Keselowski22019, 2017Kyle Busch22013, 2008Ryan Blaney12021Denny Hamlin12012NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway with nine victories (1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000).Kurt Busch (2002, 2009, 2010, 2021) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series winners at Atlanta Motor Speedway with four victories.Youngest Cup Series Atlanta winner: Kyle Busch (03/09/2008 — 22 years, 10 months, 7 days).Oldest Cup Series Atlanta winner: Morgan Shepherd (03/20/1993 — 51 years, 5 months, 8 days).A total of six different drivers, including one active NASCAR Cup Series driver, have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway:First-Time WinnersDateCarl EdwardsSunday, March 20, 2005Kevin HarvickSunday, March 11, 2001Jerry NadeauMonday, November 20, 2000Jim HurtubiseSunday, March 27, 1966Bob BurdickSunday, March 26, 1961Bobby JohnsSunday, October 30, 1960Four of the six active NASCAR Cup Series winners at Atlanta Motor Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Kevin Harvick is the only active driver to win at Atlanta in his first appearance (2001).Denny Hamlin competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway 12 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any of the six active NASCAR Cup Series winners.Among the six active NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta winners Denny Hamlin (12) is the only driver to have made 10 or more attempts before his first win.Martin Truex Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Atlanta without visiting Victory Lane at 24 starts; followed by Greg Biffle at 22 starts.No driver has swept the triple header weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway across all three NASCAR national series. Two drivers have won in multiple NASCAR national series races in the same weekend at Atlanta:Carl Edwards (2005, NCS/NXS); (Fall 2008, NCS/NXS)Kyle Busch (Spring 2008, NCS/NCWTS)The most proficient starting position in the field at Atlanta Motor Speedway is the fifth starting position — it has produced more wins (16) than any other starting position.A total of 14 of the 115 NASCAR Cup Series races (12.17%) have been won from the pole or first starting position.13 different drivers accomplished the feat of winning at Atlanta from the pole, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty is the only driver to do it twice (1975, 1977).Kasey Kahne is the most recent driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race from the pole at Atlanta (3/19/2006).NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt is the only driver to start from the first position due to qualifying being cancelled and win in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway (1990).
Wins by Starting Positions at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %11412.17%1421.74%21210.43%1510.87%3108.70%1721.74%4108.70%1810.87%51613.91%1932.61%643.48%2021.74%765.22%2121.74%876.09%2210.87%986.96%3110.87%1032.61%3510.87%1143.48%3721.74%1210.87%3910.87%1310.87%StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the Pole:12.17%14Winning from the Front Row:22.61%26Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:53.91%62Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:78.26%90Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:6.96%8The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Atlanta is 39th, by Bobby Labonte in the fall of 2001.The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Atlanta is 19th, by Brad Keselowski in 2019.In total 41 different owners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway; eight Atlanta winning organizations are active this weekend.Active Organization WinnersWinsHendrick Motorsports14Wood Brothers Racing12Joe Gibbs Racing11Richard Childress Racing9RFK Racing6Team Penske6Stewart-Haas Racing3The Hendrick Motorsports organization has the most wins at Atlanta in the NASCAR Cup Series with 14 victories: Darrell Waltrip (1989), Ken Schrader (1991), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011), Jerry Nadeau (2000), Jimmie Johnson (2004, 2007 sweep, 2015, 2016) and Kasey Kahne (2014).Nine different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta; led by Chevrolet with 41 victories; followed by Ford (34), Pontiac (11), Dodge (nine), Mercury (eight), Buick (four), Plymouth (four), Toyota (three) and Oldsmobile (one).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes
A total of 54 different drivers have finished runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway; 30 of the 54 have posted multiple runner-up finishes.NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson lead the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway with seven each.Kevin Harvick (2009, 2015), Kyle Busch (2020, 2021) and Kyle Larson (2017, 2021) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with two runner-up finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway each.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Atlanta (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Dale Earnhardt71Kevin Harvick2David Pearson7Kyle Busch23Richard Petty6Kyle Larson24Dale Jarrett54Brad Keselowski1Jeff Gordon5Joey Logano1Martin Truex Jr1
Top-Five Finishes
A total of 113 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-five at Atlanta Motor Speedway; 77 of the 113 Cup drivers with top fives at Atlanta have multiple top-five finishes on the 1.54-mile track.NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway with 26; followed by fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough with 23.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Atlanta with nine.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Atlanta (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Dale Earnhardt261Kevin Harvick92Cale Yarborough232Kurt Busch83Richard Petty22Kyle Busch84Darrell Waltrip184Denny Hamlin65Bobby Allison17Martin Truex Jr6Buddy Baker17David Pearson17
Top-10 Finishes
A total of 208 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway; 129 of the 208 have multiple top 10s at Atlanta in the series.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Atlanta with 33.Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 16 top-10 finishes at Atlanta each.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Atlanta (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Richard Petty331Kevin Harvick162Dale Earnhardt302Kurt Busch163Cale Yarborough293Martin Truex Jr124Darrell Waltrip284Kyle Busch115Bobby Allison275Greg Biffle10Buddy Baker27
Average Finishing Position
Dick Hutcherson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a 3.6 in five starts.Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a 12.429 in seven starts.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Atlanta (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1Dick Hutcherson3.60051Ryan Blaney12.42972Lee Petty7.00022Kyle Larson12.87583Troy Ruttman7.00023Kyle Busch13.000244Speedy Thompson8.00024Chase Elliott13.57175Dale Earnhardt9.543465Kurt Busch14.935316Billy Wade10.25046Brad Keselowski15.214147Bob Welborn10.28677Daniel Suarez15.33368Rex White10.455118Martin Truex Jr15.417249Ernie Irvan11.850209Kevin Harvick15.4383210Jimmie Johnson11.8623410Christopher Bell15.6673
LAP LEADERS
A total of 171 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Atlanta Motor Speedway with 3,283 laps led in 47 starts. He is one of just seven drivers all-time to lead more than 3,000 laps at a single track, and the only one to do it on a 1.5-mile speedway.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Atlanta with 1,197 in 29 starts.The most laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway was 308 laps led of the scheduled 334 (92.2%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough on March 30, 1969; he started from fifth.The most laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series driver that did not win the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was 292 laps led of the scheduled 325 (89.8%) by Kevin Harvick on March 5, 2017; he started from the pole and finished ninth.The fewest laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway was one lap — the final lap – of the scheduled 267 by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson on September 17, 1961; he started the race in fifth.
Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Lap Leaders at Atlanta (All-Time)
RankAll-Time DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Cale Yarborough473,28312,89125%2Dale Earnhardt462,65513,83419%3Richard Petty651,82717,51310%4David Pearson391,4829,44416%5Kevin Harvick371,34810,12713%6Jeff Gordon421,29712,59010%7Bobby Allison481,16612,6729%8Bill Elliott631,01717,4296%9Tony Stewart289748,69011%10Bobby Labonte3895911,0169%
Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Lap Leaders at Atlanta (Active)
RankActive DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Kevin Harvick371,34810,12713%2Kurt Busch379489,13410%3Kyle Busch295307,4857%4Denny Hamlin284206,9836%5Kyle Larson134182,54216%6Martin Truex Jr293517,5305%7Greg Biffle232916,9794%8Joey Logano221955,1434%9Brad Keselowski191354,4373%10Ryan Blaney12682,2113%
TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest Margin of Victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway is the March 11, 2001 race won by Kevin Harvick over Jeff Gordon with a margin of victory of 0.006 second — which is the fifth closest finish in series history.Atlanta Motor Speedway holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the two closest finishes on 1.5-mile tracks:0.006 second — March 30, 2001 — Kevin Harvick beats Jeff Gordon to the finish.0.010 second — March 12, 2000 — Dale Earnhardt beats Bobby Labonte to the finish.
Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Closest Margins of Victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Margin of Victory (Secs.)WinnerRunner-UpDate0.006Kevin HarvickJeff GordonSunday, March 11, 20010.010Dale EarnhardtBobby LabonteSunday, March 12, 20000.028Carl EdwardsJimmie JohnsonSunday, March 20, 20050.190Jeff GordonBobby LabonteSunday, March 12, 19950.218Brad KeselowskiMartin Truex JrSunday, February 24, 20190.293Jimmie JohnsonMark MartinSunday, October 31, 20040.332Kurt BuschJeff GordonSunday, March 8, 20090.350Ernie IrvanMorgan ShepherdSunday, March 13, 19940.376Tony StewartDale Earnhardt JrSunday, March 10, 20020.378Denny HamlinJeff GordonSunday, September 2, 2012There have been six NASCAR Cup Series races resulting in a NASCAR Overtime finish at Atlanta:DateWinnerRunner-UpScheduled LapsActual LapsOvertime Laps2/28/2016Jimmie JohnsonDale Earnhardt Jr32533058/31/2014Kasey KahneMatt Kenseth325335109/2/2012Denny HamlinJeff Gordon32532723/7/2010Kurt BuschMatt Kenseth325341163/8/2009Kurt BuschJeff Gordon325330510/28/2007Jimmie JohnsonCarl Edwards3253294
Five times the NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta race was shortened due to weather:DateWinnerRunner-UpScheduled LapsActual LapsNumber of Fewer Laps10/27/2002Kurt BuschJoe Nemechek325248-7711/8/1998Jeff GordonDale Jarrett325221-1043/21/1982Darrell WaltripRichard Petty328287-4111/6/1977Darrell WaltripDavid Pearson328268-606/10/1962Fred LorenzenBanjo Matthews334219-115Three-times the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway has been postponed to another day:Race Scheduled Date: Sept. 4, 2011 — Delayed due to weather – Actual Start Date: Sept. 6, 2011 (Jeff Gordon won)Race Start Date: March 17, 1991 – First 47 laps were run then the event was postponed due to weather — Race Finish Date: March 18, 1991 (remaining 281 laps were run; Ken Schrader won the race)Race Scheduled Date: March 15, 2020 — Delayed due COVID-19 pandemic — Actual Start Date: June 7, 2020.Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway eight times:Due to weather conditions five times: Spring 1973, Spring 1990, Fall 2002, Fall 2006 and Fall 2008.Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions three times: June 7, 2020, March 21, 2021 and July 11, 2021.
FEMALE COMPETITOR STATS
Three female drivers have competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick.
DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateDanica Patrick24173/5/2017Danica Patrick25202/28/2016Danica Patrick18163/1/2015Danica Patrick2768/31/2014Danica Patrick21219/1/2013Danica Patrick23299/2/2012Average23.018.2Shawna Robinson31343/10/2002Janet Guthrie23103/19/1978Janet Guthrie191611/6/1977Janet Guthrie34303/20/1977Average25.318.7
NASCAR IN GEORGIA
There has been a total of 235 NASCAR national series races among 14 different tracks in the state of Georgia dating all the way back to 1951.Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckTotalFirst YearAtlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton11531201661960Augusta International SpeedwayAugusta1200121962Lakewood SpeedwayAtlanta1100111951Savannah SpeedwaySavannah1000101962Middle Georgia RacewayMacon90091966Central City SpeedwayMacon70071951Jeffco SpeedwayJefferson23051968Lanier SpeedwayGainesville05051988Valdosta 75 SpeedwayValdosta30031962Oglethorpe SpeedwaySavannah20021954Road Atlanta SpeedwayAtlanta02021986Augusta International RacewayAugusta10011964Columbus SpeedwayColumbus10011951Hayloft SpeedwayAugusta10011952Total1744120235
GEORGIA IN NASCAR
A total of 191 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Georgia.18 of 191 drivers have won at least once in one of NASCAR‘s national series; 11 of the 191 have posted at least one victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.DriverCupXfinityTruckCombinedBill Elliott441045Jack Smith210021Fonty Flock190019Chase Elliott135321Bob Flock4004Frank Mundy3003David Ragan2204Gober Sosebee2002Harold Kite1001Sam McQuagg1001Jody Ridley1001Brandon Jones0415Reed Sorenson0404Buckshot Jones0202Ronald Cooper0101Austin Hill0189Chandler Smith0033John Wes Townley0011Total1112016147
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