Hendrick Motorsports heads into Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, aiming for a strong showing after mixed results at Daytona, with homegrown favorite Chase Elliott seeking victory at his home track. This Hendrick Motorsports Atlanta preview highlights the team’s preparations, recent performances, and the unique excitement surrounding Atlanta for leading drivers and fans alike.
Recent Results Set the Stage for Atlanta Challenge
At the Daytona event last week, Hendrick Motorsports drivers saw varied outcomes. Chase Elliott finished a promising fourth, underscoring his contender status, while Kyle Larson landed in sixteenth place. William Byron crossed the line in twelfth, and Alex Bowman endured a tough race, coming in fortieth after an early exit. Newcomer Corey Day, in his debut drafting track experience, secured twenty-seventh place, bringing youthful energy to the team as the series transitions from Daytona’s superspeedway to Atlanta’s uniquely challenging circuit.
Analyzing Driver Stats and Cup Careers
Kyle Larson, at age 33 from Elk Grove, California, is looking to improve on a series ranking tied at fourteenth place. With crew chief Cliff Daniels by his side, Larson fields the No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet, carrying solid Cup stats and an average finish at Atlanta. Chase Elliott, age 30 from Dawsonville, Georgia, steered his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to a third ranking in the standings with the help of crew chief Alan Gustafson. Elliott’s average finish at Atlanta remains strong, making him a fan favorite on his home turf.
William Byron, age 28 from Charlotte, North Carolina, is partnered with Rudy Fugle as crew chief on the No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet. Currently ranked eighteenth, Byron’s historical performance at Atlanta includes a fair share of top finishes. Alex Bowman, age 32 of Tucson, Arizona, is working with Blake Harris as crew chief and seeks to bounce back after a costly Daytona event. The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet will look to leverage past Atlanta runs to move up from thirty-sixth in the standings. Corey Day, the youngest at age 20 from Clovis, California, is emboldened by his first Cup starts and eager to face Atlanta’s challenges with Adam Wall guiding his No. 17 entry.
Team Success and Atlanta Track History
Hendrick Motorsports stands out in NASCAR Cup competition, holding record achievements at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The organization boasts 1,418 all-time races, 320 race victories, and 259 pole positions—both cup records—alongside over 85,000 laps led. At Atlanta specifically, they have claimed top-five and top-ten finishes more than any other team, underscoring their reputation at drafting track venues and setting the stage for another strong campaign this weekend.
Insights from the Drivers Ahead of the Atlanta Race
Kyle Larson reflects confidence going into Atlanta, focusing on maximizing qualifying to secure a strong starting position. He is eager to see what the No. 5 team can achieve as they welcome Valvoline’s sponsorship for this important event.
“Our No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team has shown strong speed to start the season, which gives us confidence heading into another drafting track weekend. Track position will be even more critical, so one of our focuses is on putting together a solid qualifying effort to set ourselves up for Sunday. We’re excited to have Valvoline back on board our Chevrolet and look forward to making the most of the opportunity.”
—Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, returning to race at his home track in Georgia, is motivated by the unique energy and support he receives at Atlanta. He acknowledges the boost that fans and venue changes have brought and looks forward to competing twice a year at this special venue.
“For me, it’s nice to stay close to home, number one, but number two, I think it’s the excitement and the energy. I got to experience that firsthand after the race there over the summer (after the win), which was just really cool to see and kind of feel that support. It’s a special place. It’s my home track. I think there’s been a lot of regenerated excitement for the speedway since the change. People have been telling me how much they enjoy going down there again, and that’s always cool too. So, all of that is fun. I’m glad there’s two races too. You get to experience it twice a year instead of once.”
—Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet
William Byron is ready for the challenge of back-to-back drafting races, weighing the handling element at Atlanta and anticipating improvements after reviewing past performance data.
“It’s tough having two drafting races back-to-back just for the element of the unknown. I do have confidence though in that we’ll show up with a good car and have a good shot again as long as we’re there in the end. The difference between Atlanta and Daytona though is that handling plays a bigger factor this weekend than it did last. Qualifying is the only lap you get to try get a feel for what you have. We have a pretty good notebook for there, so hopefully we unload close and can fine tune for Sunday.”
—William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet
Alex Bowman remains motivated after experiencing the new Chevrolet body and sees opportunities for redemption as the team builds on previous Atlanta successes.
“Hendrick Motorsports had a strong showing last weekend (in the DAYTONA 500), which is really positive to see with the new Chevrolet body. Obviously, for our No. 48 Ally team, being in the wrong place at the wrong time ended our day early last weekend. With what we saw out of the car, we’re ready to get to Atlanta, another drafting track, and see what we can accomplish. We have shown speed there, had good runs in the past and we’ll look to continue building on that.”
—Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet
Corey Day expresses eagerness facing his first Atlanta experience, placing trust in his team’s preparations and looking to learn from every lap.
“Atlanta will be tough, it’s a track I’ve never been to so, it’s all new to me, but I’m ready for it. Daytona was my first drafting track and I learned a lot but have a lot more to learn. Our team has been putting in the work on building fast race cars and I’m excited to see what we can do at a new track.”
—Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet
What Fans Should Watch for at Atlanta Motor Speedway
This weekend’s Atlanta Motor Speedway promises energetic competition, with Hendrick Motorsports drivers striving to maintain their legacy at this renowned drafting track. Chase Elliott’s quest for a home-track victory is a focal point, drawing support from local fans and adding intensity to the event. With the renewed challenge of handling, qualifying, and fast-paced drafting conditions, each driver brings their own motivation and strategy, making this Hendrick Motorsports Atlanta preview essential for fans and followers of the season’s unfolding storylines.
