NASCAR Rookies Debut Season Starts With Another Test by Fire at Atlanta

The NASCAR community is still recovering from the controversial photo finish at the Daytona 500. And whilst the previous weekend’s favourites such as Joey Logano and Alex Bowman are aiming to redeem themselves at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the journey ahead is supposedly far tougher for the series’ three new full-time rookies. Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, and Josh Berry are in for a tumultuous season as they step up to the sport’s premier category, with the expectations from Spire Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing higher than ever.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series rookies show great promise ahead of the Ambetter Health 400

Kicking things off with the Stewart Haas Racing camp, Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola’s departure at the end of the 2023 season left Tony Stewart with major shoes to fill. After all, not only had SHR just lost its star power but also the team had been on a downward trajectory since the beginning of 2022. This makes the pressure from Stewart Haas Racing on Josh Berry significantly higher than the other rookies who are working to grow with a relatively newer team in Spire.

While Josh Berry is no stranger to scoring top-fives at Atlanta, his partnership with the veteran crew chief Rodney Childers will prove vital to bring in a good result at the speedway. After all, Berry has also led 50 laps at the 1 1/2 mile oval during his Xfinity Series career. Berry could also secure a solid top ten qualifying position owing to an average starting position of 11.2 in the Xfinity car previously.

Moving on to Spire Motorsports, there is nothing but uncertainty surrounding their 2024 campaign, albeit less for Zane Smith. Not only is the new driver of the #71 working closely with the racer-turned-crew chief, Stephen Doran, but also Smith has shown great form at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the truck series with 2 top 5s and 3 tops 10s in just four outings.

Smith also brings a handful of experiences competing for the championship in the truck series, with three appearances in the Championship 4 round in the past four seasons. But when the conversation turns to the 2022 Truck Series champion’s teammate, a lot is still up for debate.

Carson Hocevar’s rise to the NASCAR Cup Series has been nothing short of awe-inspiring, but the rookie has a lot to prove against some of the biggest names in motorsport. While driving for the new Spire-Trackhouse partnership will certainly come with its share of benefits, Hocevar’s mediocre results at Atlanta Motor Speedway may not be the most confidence-inducing.

READ MORE: Tony Stewart and Partner Could Be Forced to Sell Few of Their Charters After the 2024 Season

The challenge at the 1-and-a-half-mile oval will certainly prove to pose challenges for each of the new rookies. After all, not only do the newcomers have to adjust to a new environment within the team and build relationships with the crew, but also need to master the Next Gen car faster than ever. With the anticipation for the Ambetter Health 400 rising, it’s also worth peeking at the schedule for the weekend.

Ambetter Health 400 schedule and weather forecast

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In only a few hours, the community shall finally get to experience the 2024 season’s story unfold further. But with last week’s weather creating a fear of the rain gods, fans will be delighted to know it’s reportedly all clear with sunny skies forecasted throughout the weekend.

The Ambetter Health 400 will kick off on FOX SPORTS 1 with the Truck Series qualifier at 3:05 PM EST, followed by the Xfinity Series qualifier at 4:34 PM EST. Those who want to directly tune in for the Cup Series qualifying session can do so on Saturday at 11:30 AM EST. Soon after, the Truck and Xfinity series races will commence at 2 and 5 PM EST, respectively.

For the big day that the Cup Series rookies are patiently waiting for, action at the Atlanta Motor Speedway will kick off at 3:00 PM EST on Sunday. Apart from tuning in to the FOX SPORTS broadcast for live coverage, fans on the road can also tune into SiriusXM’s NASCAR Radio. International fans can also refer to the sport’s official website for further details.

READ MORE: Kyle Larson Distances Himself from the Horrible Speedway Record by Blaming It on Wiped-Out Chip Ganassi Racing

With the race schedule reported to begin at the correct time without any weather scares, who do you think will take the checkered flag at the Ambetter Health 400?