Atlanta Motor Speedway has long been a cornerstone of the NASCAR Cup Series, hosting biannual races since its inaugural event in 1960. For half a century, AMS was a staple on the Playoffs list, but that tradition hit a bump in the road with a decade-long hiatus beginning in 2011. The track underwent a major revamp in 2020 to introduce superspeedway-style racing, but its return to the Playoffs stage has only come this year.

For Georgian native Chase Elliott, the significance of Atlanta is personal. After securing his first win at his home track in 2022, Elliott felt the weight of that victory in a whole new way. But the 2024 season hasn’t seen Elliott replicate that magic—yet. As Atlanta Motor Speedway gears up to kick off ‘The Chase,’ Elliott expressed his excitement over the track’s long-awaited return to Playoff action, hopeful to reclaim his home-track thunder in front of a roaring hometown crowd.

The return of Atlanta to the Playoffs isn’t just a revival of tradition—it’s a high-stakes moment, and Elliott is determined to make it one to remember.

“I hope it stays that way”, says Elliott

The fan attendance at Atlanta Motor Speedway was not that great after the track came back from a makeover in 2021. The low turnout might have been the reason for the track being kept from the Playoffs. But Elliott’s race craft displayed in 2022 seems to be attracting fans who have gradually been making their comeback, still not matching the historical levels.

With the return of Atlanta’s second leg, many people have shown their interest in attending the race this weekend. “Having 2 dates here is good, it’s healthy. So, I hope it stays that way.“, confirmed Elliott. When Peter Stratta from TSJ101 Sports asked Chase Elliott whether he thinks his February 2024 finish played a role in the excitement, he responded, “I would have to imagine that helped. Sure.”

Elliott failed to lead during the 2024 Ambetter Health 400 despite recovering from the 28th to the 8th position, due to a post-restart crash involving Ross Chastain. But that race was iconic for reasons beyond the local hero. It marked the closest three-wide finish that NASCAR has seen with Daniel Suarez getting the victory lane, while Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch settled for 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively.

It is expected that fans will be flocking to the stands for the Quaker State 400 which will give the track the boost it deserves. “I think this is a track that deserves one (Playoff date) and wherever it falls, I don’t really care. I think it has enough excitement and everything around it to make it be successful.”

How does the AMS replacement enhance the racing experience?

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The reconfiguration of AMS has made it 15 meters less wide and has also increased its banking by 4 degrees. What this does is it allows for faster speeds on the turns without going off the track. Unlike Daytona and Talladega, the only two tracks that NASCAR recognizes as superspeedways, Atlanta Motor Speedway is an intermediate-sized track with just 1.54 miles in length.

Typically, tracks over 2 miles are recognized as superspeedways by NASCAR. However, the other specifications of the reimagined AMS have made superspeedway rules apply here. Interestingly, since 2022, 4 of the 5 races have been won by Chevrolet drivers, indicating their prowess in pack racing.

The qualifying positions for the Chevrolets are not that great for this Sunday, with none in the top 5, only 2 in the top 10, and Elliott starting at 16th. But superspeedways are unpredictable and with the possibility of carnage, the race can flip at any point. To the least, Atlanta is going to be brimming with fervor.

Who will you be rooting for? Let us know.