Hometown Hero Chase Elliott Is All Praise for Nascar’s Decision to Have Two Atlanta Races in the Calendar

Chase Elliot will receive a warm welcome and a lot of cheers this weekend when he comes out to race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Home races are special, and being the son of the famed Bill Elliot surely plays a role in Elliot’s appreciation whenever he comes to race in his backyard. The 28-year-old knows how special the win feels at home and will look to return to the winning ways after a disappointing and winless 2023 season.

For the first time since 2019, Atlanta Motor Speedway returns to the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, thus bringing back the tradition of racing at this venue just after the Daytona 500. Another big change this venue has seen in the last couple of years is the return of more than just a single racing event in the Cup Series schedule. And Chase Elliott could not have been more thrilled.

Elliott wasn’t a fan of a single event Atlanta race in the Cup Series season

Originally, the venue was called Atlanta International Speedway, and from 1960 to 2010, it hosted multiple Cup Series races during each season. However, starting in 2011, the series began visiting Atlanta just once a year. Fortunately, this streak was broken in the 2021 season, and it now features the Cup Series racing action twice a year. While returning as the second race on NASCAR’s calendar, the venue will also host a playoff round race later in the season.

Speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Elliott expressed his delight in having two Cup Series events in the season. “It comes quick. I wasn’t a huge fan of that when we just had one event here, but I think having two events has a really nice balance to it. And having Daytona being a plate race obviously, and Atlanta’s a little bit in the plate race category now track configuration wise, so I think it’ll be a really nice mix.”

He even went on to explain how it’s only fitting that the venue should be hosting more than just a single race event. “Atlanta being right here in the heart of the southeast and close to NASCAR central in Charlotte and just a really strong area of the country for a large portion of our fan base to have two events to be able to come to that’s fairly close. … I think it’s fitting, and I look forward to going down there every year.”

Elliott’s last home win at Atlanta Motor Speedway came back in 2022. Given that he is eyeing his first win after a long dry spell, a win this weekend would mean the world to him.

Nothing compares to a home race win

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It was a long wait for the HMS driver to get his first-ever home-race win at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Even in his 2020 championship-winning season, he missed out on this particular win. After finishing in six top finishes at the venue, he finally won the long-awaited event during the 2022 Cup Series season. This was also his second attempt in the same season. During the first Atlanta race, he managed a #6 finish.

Read More: Chase Elliott Dodging the Big One in Daytona 500 Surprises His Spotter – “How You Did That?”

Expressing his emotions over his memorable win, Elliott, while speaking to NASCAR host & reporter Alex Weaver, said, “It was a big deal to me for sure. I mean to win at your home track is really cool and I’d never done it before. I’ve watched other guys do it. You know a guy wins his home track it was always like a neat thing to witness and watch. I didn’t have the family at the track but got to go home and hang out with some friends.”

Interestingly, last season, none of the drivers were able to clinch a home win throughout the season. So it will be interesting to see if Chase Elliott is able to break this barrier and get back to winning ways.