Drivers to watch for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta

By now, you’re likely aware that Atlanta Motor Speedway’s reconfiguration provides a myriad of unknowns heading into Sunday’s Cup race.

At 28 degrees, the 1.5-mile track has the steepest banking of any intermediate track on the circuit. NASCAR officials determined the series will utilize its superspeedway rules package, meaning this weekend’s events might look similar to those at Daytona and Talladega.

So which drivers should you expect to see contending for the win Sunday (3 p.m. ET, Fox)?

Kevin Harvick

Harvick is one of NASCAR’s best at Atlanta, especially in recent years. In his last eight starts there, Harvick has won twice (2018, 2020) and has four top fives and seven top 10s. He’s also led at least 45 laps in eight of the last 11 Atlanta races.

In a sense, Harvick fans should be optimistic heading into this weekend. Paired with exceptional numbers specifically in Atlanta, Harvick has also been running better this season. He’s one of 12 drivers with multiple top-10 finishes this season and sits sixth in average running position, according to NASCAR’s loop data statistics.

Will that run of success continue in a superspeedway-style setting? That’s hard to say, but numbers say he should be fine either way.

Kyle Busch 

Busch has a unique trend behind his wins at Atlanta. His 2008 victory marked the first time the Car of Tomorrow was used at the 1.5-mile track. Five years later, he was back in Victory Lane after winning the first Gen 6 race at Atlanta in 2013.

The two-time Cup champion has a chance to add to his list of firsts as the Next Gen hits Hampton, Georgia for its first competition there Sunday. Despite not winning in the past nine Atlanta races, Busch has three consecutive top fives there and has finished second