The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season rolls on with this weekend’s Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway — the newly rebranded name for Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR fans can expect full-throttle action on the 1.54-mile superspeedway-style oval in Hampton, Georgia, where 40 drivers will battle under the lights for glory in the 18th points-paying race of the year. With the field size capped at 40 entries, every driver listed is guaranteed a spot in Saturday night’s feature — setting the stage for a chaotic, unpredictable race.
Key Highlights
40-driver field locked in for the 18th race of the season — no DNQs.
Chase Briscoe returns to action after Pocono victory.
Four non-chartered teams join the chartered 36-car field.
Rising star Connor Zilisch makes third career start.
Corey LaJoie, David Starr, BJ McLeod among key returnees.
Returning Stars, Rising Talents: Notable Entries to Watch
Among the headliners is Chase Briscoe, who picked up his first win of the season and first for Joe Gibbs Racing last weekend at Pocono Raceway. The No. 19 Toyota driver enters the Quaker State 400 with confidence, momentum, and a fresh place in the playoff grid. He’ll be looking to follow up his gritty fuel-mileage win with another strong run on a track that’s been especially tricky since its 2022 reconfiguration into a high-speed, drafting-heavy layout.
Corey LaJoie, one of the most respected underdog superspeedway racers in the garage, returns in the No. 01 Ford for Rick Ware Racing. With a solid sponsor in Schluter Systems and a track record of overperforming on ovals like EchoPark, LaJoie will be one to watch, especially in the closing laps when survival and positioning matter most.
Connor Zilisch, the 18-year-old Trackhouse Racing prodigy, makes his third Cup start behind the wheel of the No. 87 Red Bull-backed Chevrolet. Zilisch has impressed in his limited time, showcasing both raw speed and composure beyond his years. This marks another opportunity for the young gun to shine on a national stage.
Four Non-Chartered Teams Join the Show
While the 36 chartered entries fill most of the grid each week, four additional teams have joined the fray at EchoPark Speedway:
Garage 66 (No. 66, David Starr): The veteran driver returns for his first Cup start of the season, piloting a Ford for what was formerly known as MBM Motorsports.
Live Fast Motorsports (No. 78, BJ McLeod): The team owner and occasional driver is back in action with Pigeon Forge on the hood.
Rick Ware Racing (No. 01, Corey LaJoie): A special one-off entry fielded for one of the sport’s most capable superspeedway specialists.
Trackhouse Racing (No. 87, Connor Zilisch): A developmental driver with real potential, already on several radars across the garage.
These teams will look to capitalize on the draft-heavy nature of EchoPark, where strategy, patience, and timing can sometimes beat pure horsepower.
Full Entry List: Who’s Driving What
Here’s a snapshot of key driver-team pairings for Saturday night:
William Byron (No. 24) leads the Cup Series standings and returns in the Axalta Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Kyle Larson (No. 5) looks to close the points gap with another strong run.
Denny Hamlin (No. 11) enters as the top seed in the In-Season Challenge bracket and is one of the favorites under the lights.
Brad Keselowski (No. 6), Ryan Blaney (No. 12), and Joey Logano (No. 22) all bring years of superspeedway experience to EchoPark with Team Penske and RFK Racing.
No. | # | Driver |
1 | 1 | Corey LaJoie |
2 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
3 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
4 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
5 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
6 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
7 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
8 | 7 | Justin Haley |
9 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
10 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
11 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
13 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
14 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
15 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
16 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
17 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
18 | 21 | Josh Berry |
19 | 22 | Joey Logano |
20 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
21 | 24 | William Byron |
22 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
23 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
24 | 38 | Zane Smith |
25 | 41 | Cole Custer |
26 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek |
27 | 43 | Erik Jones |
28 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
29 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
30 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
31 | 51 | Cody Ware |
32 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
33 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
34 | 66 | David Starr |
35 | 71 | Michael McDowell |
36 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
37 | 78 | BJ McLeod |
38 | 87 | Connor Zilisch |
39 | 88 | Shane Van Gisbergen |
40 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
Among the new and returning names:
Shane van Gisbergen continues his Cup Series transition in the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing.
David Starr and BJ McLeod bring experience and tenacity, while rookies like Riley Herbst and Zane Smith aim for breakout performances.
With no DNQs this week, all 40 drivers have the green light to go racing.
News in Brief: Entry List Set for 2025 Quaker State 400
The stage is set for a dramatic Saturday night in Georgia. With a full field, an unpredictable superspeedway layout, and mid-season playoff tension heating up, the 2025 Quaker State 400 is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point in the NASCAR Cup Series season.
The race will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Green flag is set for 7:00 p.m. ET — and when it drops, every position could mean the difference between playoff security and desperation. Buckle up.
ALSO READ: 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Entry List: The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway
Our Reader’s Queries
Q: What is Quaker State 400?
A: The Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is a NASCAR Cup Series race held at EchoPark Speedway (previously Atlanta Motor Speedway) in Hampton, Georgia. It ran each March from 1960 to 2010 and has been held in July since 2021.
Q: How many laps are in the Quaker State 400?
A; The Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is a 400-mile race consisting of 260 laps.