It’s on to Atlanta this week after an exciting race in Phoenix and now the challenge isn’t the tight quarters of the racing surface, but what that racing surface does to the tires. This track is known as the most abrasive tracks in the Cup series and in fact, the drivers persuaded the track owners to not repave it a few years ago since they like the challenge it carries with it and how they have to race the track as well as their fellow competitors in the race.

Atlanta is a 1.5-mile quad-oval track that has been hosting NASCAR races since 1960 and in its current form since 1997 (the last time the asphalt was replaced). If the asphalt wasn’t so worn, you’d be able to tell that it’s one of the fastest tracks in the Cup series and you can still run that speed, but at a steep cost to your tires. The key to the race on Sunday will be which driver has the best long-run speed and who can preserve the tires the best and this is also why rookies are a bit hard to count on here.

Enjoy...