As NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400, fans are gearing up for a weekend packed with high-speed drama, playoff implications—and the debut of the In-Season Tournament. While storylines abound, some drivers enter with a clear edge thanks to consistently strong performances at the 1.54-mile track.
Since its reconfiguration into a superspeedway-style oval in 2022, Atlanta Motor Speedway—now branded EchoPark Speedway—has produced wild finishes, lead changes, and surprise winners. Yet amid the unpredictability, a handful of drivers have quietly mastered the art of navigating this chaotic circuit. Let’s take a look at the top five NASCAR Cup Series drivers with the best average finish at Atlanta since 2022.
Key Highlights
Ryan Blaney owns the best average finish (6.7) at Atlanta since the 2022 reconfiguration.
Daniel Suárez and AJ Allmendinger both average 11.0—but Suárez owns a win at the track.
Chase Elliott has led more laps (125) than anyone else on this list over the last six races.
Ross Chastain’s Atlanta consistency helps anchor his current top-10 position in the standings.
The Quaker State 400 will also mark the start of the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Tournament.
5. Ross Chastain
Since Atlanta’s transition to a pack-racing-style format, Ross Chastain has become one of the more reliable performers at the track. The Trackhouse Racing driver holds an average finish of 11.4 across seven starts. He’s collected two top-five and four top-10 results, showcasing a knack for surviving late-race restarts and high-stakes moments.
While his average starting position sits at 18.4, Chastain consistently gains ground once the green flag drops. Currently sitting eighth in the standings, he’s a serious contender to break through at Atlanta—especially with the In-Season Tournament on the line.
4. AJ Allmendinger
Often associated with road course success, AJ Allmendinger has quietly built an impressive record on Atlanta’s high-speed oval. Over three starts since 2022, the Kaulig Racing veteran holds an average finish of 11.0.
Though his sample size is smaller than others on this list, Allmendinger has made each opportunity count. He’s registered one top-five finish and even led a few laps at the track. Last time out, he came home 14th, and currently ranks 17th in the season standings with 344 points. If trends hold, he could easily find himself near the front once again on Saturday night.
3. Daniel Suárez
When it comes to Atlanta, Daniel Suárez brings more than just consistency—he brings hardware. Suárez captured the checkered flag in last year’s Ambetter Health 400, adding a critical win to his résumé. Over the past three seasons, he’s racked up four top-five finishes and led 31 laps, all while maintaining an average finish of 11.0.
As a Trackhouse Racing driver, Suárez has shown an ability to adapt to the superspeedway-style racing Atlanta now offers. With the added spotlight of the In-Season Tournament and strong momentum behind him, he’ll be looking to build on his track success and possibly pull off another upset win.
2. Chase Elliott – Georgia’s Favorite Son
For Chase Elliott, racing at Atlanta isn’t just another stop on the calendar—it’s a homecoming. The Dawsonville, Georgia native has delivered in front of his home crowd, boasting an average finish of 10.5 in his last six starts.
Elliott captured the 2022 Quaker State 400, his lone win at the track, and has logged one top-five and three top-10s. Perhaps more impressively, he has led 125 laps, the most among the five drivers listed. Elliott currently sits fifth in the points standings with 543 points, and a strong Atlanta result could set him up for a powerful summer surge.
1. Ryan Blaney
At the top of the leaderboard for average finish at Atlanta since 2022 is Ryan Blaney, who has made the 1.54-mile oval his personal playground. In his last seven starts, the Team Penske driver holds an astonishing average finish of 6.7—by far the best in the series.
Despite not yet winning at the track, Blaney has posted four top-fives and six top-10s, proving that he’s always in the mix when it matters most. With an average starting position of 3.1 and 107 laps led, Blaney often controls the pace early and maintains track position.
Currently ranked sixth in the standings, Blaney is knocking on the door of a long-overdue Atlanta win—and with the added pressure of the In-Season Tournament looming, now might be the perfect time to finally seal the deal.
News in Brief: Best Average Finish at Atlanta Since 2022
Atlanta Motor Speedway has become one of the most unpredictable tracks on the NASCAR schedule, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its specialists. Drivers like Blaney, Elliott, and Suárez have proven that smart, disciplined racing can still deliver results—even in the draft-heavy chaos of this reimagined oval.
As the Quaker State 400 approaches and the In-Season Tournament kicks off, these five drivers should be on every fan’s radar. Whether you’re watching for raw speed, racecraft, or redemption, Atlanta’s summer showdown promises another chapter in the evolving story of NASCAR’s superspeedway era.
ALSO READ: The Oldest Driver to Race in NASCAR History Proves Age Is Just a Number
