After a wild short track race last weekend, the Cup Series returns to a 1.5-mile speedway Sunday.
Chase Elliott, who made contact with Joey Logano at the end of last weekend’s race at Bristol as they raced for the lead, starts on the pole. Aric Almirola starts second and Logano will start third.
Here are the details for Sunday’s race:
(All times are Eastern)
START: Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, competing in his final race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, will give the command to start engines at 3:13 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:25 p.m.
PRERACE: Garage access health screening begins at 7:45 a.m. (teams are assigned specific times). Engine prime and final adjustments at 1 p.m. Drivers report to their cars at 2:50 p.m. The invocation will be given at 3:05 p.m. by Jack Dewberry, Atlanta Motor Speedway Chaplain. The national anthem will be performed at 3:06 p.m. by 12-year-old Keedron Bryant. There will be a flyover at 3:08˜˜w p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 325 laps (500.5 miles) around the 1.54-mile speedway.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 105. Stage 2 ends on Lap 210.
PACE LAP: At the direction of race control, drivers will have the opportunity to run one pace lap down pit road before the green flag for a pit road speed check. If a driver stops in the pit box for any reason, pull over or slow down, they will start at the rear of the field.
COMPETITION CAUTION: Lap 25
TV/RADIO: Fox will televise the race. Its coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. Performance Racing Network will broadcast the race. Its broadcast begins at 2 p.m. and also can be heard at goprn.com and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
FORECAST: The wunderground.com forecast calls for cloudy conditions with a high of 84 degrees and a 15% chance of rain at the race’s start.
TO THE REAR: Corey LaJoie and Garrett Smithley (failed inspection twice), Timmy Hill and Cole Custer (unapproved adjustments). Kurt Busch will drop to the rear and serve a pass through penalty for failing inspection three times.
LAST RACE: Chase Elliott made contact with Joey Logano racing for the lead in the final laps at Bristol, allowing Brad Keselowski to take the lead and win last weekend. Clint Bowyer was second. Jimmie Johnson placed third.
LAST RACE AT ATLANTA: Brad Keselowski led the final 33 laps to win this race Feb. 24, 2019. Martin Truex Jr. was second. Kurt Busch finished third.
STARTING LINEUP: Click here for Cup starting lineup
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