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via Imago

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via Imago

This wasn’t your grandpa’s Atlanta. The track’s been reborn with steep banking and fresh asphalt, a Frankenstein mashup of intermediate guts and superspeedway flair.  Kevin Harvick, the man who stepped into Dale Earnhardt’s shoes back in 2001, winning in his third start amid unimaginable pressure, knows a thing or two about chaos. Now, perched in the broadcast booth instead of the driver’s seat, Harvick watched Christopher Bell snag a Cinderella victory in a race that was equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

Atlanta Motor Speedway just threw a curveball at NASCAR, and Kevin Harvick—never one to mince words—called it out with a single, razor-sharp declaration: sketchy. NASCAR wanted Daytona-style pack racing on a mile-and-a-half canvas, but Harvick’s not buying it. Harvick didn’t hold back on what he thinks of Atlanta’s so-called superspeedway vibe—it’s a fake, and it’s got everyone on edge.

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Kevin Harvick highlights Atlanta’s trickery

“Atlanta puts drivers in the most uncomfortable position you’ll face all year,” he said, his voice dripping with been-there-done-that authority. “It’s a sketchy race, sketchy.” Even Bell, who danced through the madness to take the win, couldn’t argue. Harvick asked him point-blank: “Your car was built for handling—did it feel good?” Bell’s reply? “Absolutely not.” Ouch. What’s the deal? Atlanta’s a beast.

It’s got the tight packs and screaming speeds of a superspeedway, but its shorter length—1.5 miles instead of Daytona’s sprawling 2.5—cranks the intensity to eleven. “It feels like you’re going 300 miles an hour,” Harvick said. “Everything happens faster. A comfortable car still doesn’t feel good.” “You’re lifting, the front end’s taking off in traffic,” Harvick explained. “It’s a whole different game.” Drivers can’t just mash the gas and pray like at Talladega; they’re lifting, adjusting, wrestling cars that twitch and slide as tires wear thin and air shoves them sideways. It’s a high-wire act with no net, and even a “good” car feels like a bucking bronco.

Christopher Bell’s win was pure grit meets genius. The race was a demolition derby—late crashes, wild lead swaps, and enough drama to fill a season. While others spun out or lost their nerve, Bell kept his cool, threading the needle through Atlanta’s chaos like a maestro. It wasn’t just speed that got him there; it was patience, precision, and a knack for dodging disaster. His Cinderella story stole the show, but Harvick’s commentary stole the headlines. Atlanta’s not Daytona or Talladega—it’s a different animal, a “fake” superspeedway that demands more finesse than its big brothers.

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USA Today via Reuters

Fans might love the unpredictability—pack racing with a side of mayhem—but for drivers, it’s a pressure cooker. Tires shred faster, margins shrink, and one wrong twitch can send half the field into the wall. Harvick’s seen it all, from his rookie heroics to his 60 career wins, and he’s not shy about calling Atlanta what it is: a sketchy experiment. It’s not a pure superspeedway—it’s a hybrid that leaves drivers white-knuckling it lap after lap.

Yet, that’s the magic, isn’t it? Harvick’s one-word jab might sting, but it’s spot-on for a place that keeps everyone guessing. Love it or hate it, Atlanta’s a rollercoaster—sketchy as hell, sure, but one wild ride that keeps NASCAR’s heart pounding. Next time they roll in, you can bet Harvick’s eagle eye will be watching, ready to drop another truth bomb on this fake-out superspeedway saga.

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NASCAR’s bold 2026 Clash decision

NASCAR’s staring down a fork in the road, and the 2026 Clash decision’s got everyone talking: cling to its gritty roots or chase a global glow-up? The 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium was a throwback triumph—over 15,000 fans filled the stands, short-track madness reigned, and Kevin Harvick was all about it. “Atlanta is the track that puts the drivers in the most uncomfortable position that you will be in all year,” he’s said of that twitchy superspeedway beast. But Bowman Gray? That’s different—“raw, unpredictable, and exactly what fans wanted,” as the buzz went. Harvick and the old guard are pushing hard for NASCAR to lean into these grassroots hotspots.

Meanwhile, the sport’s got its eyes on the world. The 2025 season’s breaking borders with a points race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez—the first international one since ’58. Talks of South America, Europe, and Asia are heating up, and in 2024, execs even floated taking the Clash to São Paulo, Brazil, in 2026. It’s a tantalizing vision of NASCAR going full-on global.

But hold up—plans might be shifting. Adam Stern dropped the scoop: “Now, five people familiar with the matter have called Bowman Gray the favorite to land the event again next year, even though NASCAR has been considering taking the race elsewhere in 2026.” That’s a plot twist. The Fox Sports documentary The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray only fanned the flames, spotlighting the venue’s mythic status.

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It’s a tug-of-war with big stakes. Staying at Bowman Gray keeps the faith with the hardcore fans who live for the sport’s soul. Going abroad? That’s a historic leap toward a worldwide stage drivers and brass are hungry for. Tradition versus ambition—this call’s not just about a race; it’s NASCAR’s roadmap. Roots or wings? 2026’s gonna tell the tale.

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