After a soggy start to the 2024 NASCAR season and a rain-delayed Daytona 500, NASCAR heads to Atlanta this weekend.
William Byron captured the Daytona 500 win under caution Monday night, breaking the 10-year Great American Race win drought for Hendrick Motorsports.
It was the ninth victory for Hendrick in the “Great American Race,” tying the franchise with Petty Enterprises for the most ever and a great start to Rick Hendricks's 40th year in NASCAR.
Meanwhile, Dawsonville's Chase Elliotts' hopes of winning his first Daytona 500 came to an end as he moved out of line on the final restart to finish 14th. Elliott returns to his home track, Atlanta, this weekend with hopes of getting a win.
WEEKEND NEED TO KNOW
NASCAR Cup Series
Ambetter Health 400
Site: Hampton, Georgia.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 11:35 p.m.; Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m., live radio coverage on WDUN AM 550 & FM 102.9
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 260 laps, 400 miles.
Last year: Joey Logano won after starting on the pole.
Last race: William Byron crossed under the white flag denoting the final lap at the exact moment a crash broke out behind him and won the rain-delayed Daytona 500, giving team owner Rick Hendrick the win in the 40th anniversary year of Hendrick Motorsports.
Fast facts: Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman was second. ... The last Hendrick driver to win the 500 was Dale Earmhardt Jr. in 2014. ... Hendrick drivers have won the Daytona 500 nine times, tying the team with Petty Enterprises for the most ever. ... The fourth and final caution of the race began when Bowman hit Byron from behind and it caused Byron to sideswipe Brad Keselowski, triggering a 23-car crash that caused a red flag that lasted more than 15 minutes.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
RAPTOR King of Tough 250
Site: Hampton, Georgia.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 4:35 p.m.; Saturday, race, 5 p.m. (FS1), live radio coverage on WDUN AM 550 & FM 102.9
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 163 laps, 251 miles.
Last year: Austin Hill won after starting third.
Last race: Hill won at Daytona for the third consecutive year on Monday night after the race was postponed by rain.
Fast facts: The season-opening race was originally slated to be run Saturday. ... Hill has seven career victories, with two others coming at Atlanta. ... Shane van Gisbergen finished 12th as last year’s Cup winner at Chicago and made his Xfinity Series debut. ... Frankie Muniz, the actor making a transition to motorsports, finished 33rd in his series debut.
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES
Fr8 208
Site: Hampton, Georgia.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 3:05 p.m.; Saturday, race, 2 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 135 laps, 208 miles.
Last year: Christian Eckes won after starting fourth.
Last race: Nick Sanchez claimed the first Truck Series victory of his career, winning the season opener at Daytona when the race ended under caution.
Fast facts: Corey Heim was second, followed by Rajah Caruth. ... The final caution involved 12 trucks and was the record 12th of the race.
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