THE RACE: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
TRACK: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #2 of 36
Date: Sunday, February 25, 2018 in Hampton, GA
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:16 pm/et (Moved up to 1:06pm/et)
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR RaceDay: 12:00pm/et on FS1
NASCAR Pre-Race Show: 12:30pm/et on Fox
Television Race Coverage: Fox, 1:00pm/et
Practices:
Friday, February 23, 11:35am-12:55pm/et, TV-FS1;
Saturday, February 24, 12:00 pm - 1:20 pm/et, TV-FS1
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Friday, February 23 at 5:15 pm/et, TV-FS1;
re-air scheduled: TBA
In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon
Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Regan Smith, Vince Welch, Matt Yocum
In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
TBA
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Performance Racing Network (PRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO (available with participating TV provider login)
Radio: PRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE - UPDATED
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Friday, February 23
8:00 AM-5:00 PM MENCS REGISTRATION OPEN
8:30 AM-7:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
10:30 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
11:35 AM-12:55 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
5:15 PM MENCS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
Saturday, February 24
10:30 AM-2:00 PM MENCS REGISTRATION OPEN
10:30 AM-4:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
12:00 PM-1:20 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
Sunday, February 25
7:30 AM-1:30 PM NASCAR CREDENTIALS OPEN
7:30 AM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
11:00 AM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (MEDIA CENTER)
12:15 PM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
1:00 PM MENCS RACE (325 LAPS, 500.5 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Atlanta Motor Speedway Track News, Stats & Links page
March 2017: see the Atlanta Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Actor Kenan Thompson
Command to start engines: Kenan Thompson
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: TBA
Honorary Pace Car Driver: TBA
Color Guard: Georgia Army National Guard
Invocation: Dr. Beau Adams
National Anthem: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Flyover: 4 T-38's from 325th fighter wing Tyndall Air Force Base
Sunday Atlanta Notebook: Clint Bowyer got the run he needed at Atlanta Motor Speedway; Contrarian strategy gets a solid finish for Denny Hamlin; Short strokes.[More](2-25-2018)
Saturday Atlanta Notebook: Hendrick drivers search for speed in qualifying and practice; Stewart-Haas drivers will have a leg up on Sunday; Short Strokes.[More](2-24-2018)
Friday Atlanta Notebook: Austin Dillon resets his goals after Daytona 500 victory; Words of wisdom-and-merriment-from Bubba Wallace's family; Chain of friendship helps Wallace through Speedweeks.[More](2-23-2018)
What to Watch for: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta: Austin Dillon Tries to Follow Up Daytona 500; Bubba Wallace Looks for an Encore; Back to Truex's Bread and Butter; Time for Johnson to Snap His Winless Streak? Can Harvick Dominate With Better Result?[More](2-23-2018)
Atlanta Weekend Preview Atlanta holds strong memories for Harvick; Truex looks to continue strong start; Up for grabs[More](2-22-2018)
A look at many news, notes and story lines for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- Atlanta
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Atlanta, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing Atlanta page
Kevin Harvick gets long-awaited Monster Energy NASCAR Cup victory at Atlanta: On Sunday night, after 17 barren years, Kevin Harvick finally completed the second chapter of his love affair with Atlanta Motor Speedway. In the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, the second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, Harvick delivered a proper thrashing to the rest of the field, leading 181-of-325 laps and beating runner-up Brad Keselowski to the finish line by 2.690 seconds.[More](2-25-2018)
Kevin Harvick won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The win is his 1st win of 2018, 2nd win at Atlanta and 38th career win.
#2-Keselowski finished 2nd followed by #14-Bowyer, #11-Hamlin, #78-Truex, Jr., #22-Logano, #18-Busch, #41-Busch, #42-Larson, and #9-Elliott.
Harvick dominated the race, leading 181 of the 325 laps and winning by more than 2 seconds. At one point there were only 4 cars on the lead lap.
The race started about an hour later than originally scheduled and two hours after the start time was moved up. Despite a few sprinkles, rain did not impact the race further.
Pole winner #18-Busch led 9 laps and finished 7th.
Stage 1 was won by #4-Harvick, who won.
Stage 2 was won by #2-Keselowski, finished 2nd.
There were 24 lead changes among 8 drivers and 5 cautions for 28 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 143.068mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Race Recap: MENCS at Atlanta
- Kevin Harvick: 2nd career MENCS win at Atlanta; won 1st career MENCS race at Atlanta in 2001 (27 races at Atlanta between wins)
- Harvick: Became 2nd driver to sweep Xfinity & MENCS races at Atlanta (Carl Edwards in 2005)
- Harvick: Led 55% of all laps at the last 5 Atlanta races (led at least 116 laps at 5 straight)
- Brad Keselowski: Finished 2nd (won 2nd stage); won race in 2017... 1st Top-5 finish for Keselowski this season (15 in 2017, tied for 2nd most behind Martin Truex Jr. - 19)
- Clint Bowyer: Finished 3rd (0 laps led); 1st Top-5 of 2018 after only 6 in previous 2 seasons combined
- Denny Hamlin: Finished 4th; only driver to finish Top-5 at both Daytona and Atlanta (Hamlin and Joey Logano were the only 2 to finish Top-10 in both)
(ESPN Stats & Info)(2-25-2018)
Race Fast Facts - Atlanta
Kevin Harvick won the 59th Annual Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, his 38th victory in 612 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2018.
This is his second victory and 13th top-10 finish in 28 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in ten races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2018.
Clint Bowyer (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 18 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
William Byron (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Joey Logano leads the point standings by 6 points over Ryan Blaney.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(2-25-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Driver Chase Standings:
[after Atlanta, race 2 of 36]
#4-Kevin Harvick [1 win]
#3-Austin Dillon [1 win]
#22-Joey Logano, 89
#12-Ryan Blaney, 83, -6
#11-Denny Hamlin, 77, -12
#14-Clint Bowyer, 74, -15
#78-Martin Truex Jr., 69, -20
#41-Kurt Busch, 68, -21
9#21-Paul Menard, 66, -23
#10-Aric Almirola, 66, -23
#18-Kyle Busch, 61, -28
#2-Brad Keselowski, 58, -31
#42-Kyle Larson, 54, -35
#43-Darrell Wallace Jr., 52, -37
#34-Michael McDowell, 52, -37
#31-Ryan Newman, 49, -40
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 170) of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (lap 170/325):
#2-Keselowski, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#41-Busch, 9pts
#18-Busch, 8pts
#22-Logano, 7pts
#4-Harvick, 6pts
#11-Hamlin, 5pts
#42-Larson, 4pts
#10-Almirola, 3pts
#14-Bowyer, 2pts
#19-Suarez, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 85) of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (lap 85/325):
#4-Harvick, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#14-Bowyer, 9pts
#2-Keselowski, 8pts
#78-Truex, Jr., 7pts
#10-Almirola, 6pts
#18-Busch, 5pts
#42-Larson, 4pts
#41-Busch, 3pts
#11-Hamlin, 2pts
#22-Logano, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #15-Rhodes, 30th
Caution 2: #48-Johnson, 27th
Caution 3: #21-Menard, 17th
Caution 4: #88-Bowman, 20th
Caution 5: #41-Busch, 8th
Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Eastern time):
12:20pm: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions
12:50pm: Presentation of Colors by Georgia Army National Guard
12:50pm: Invocation by Dr. Beau Adams
12:51pm: National Anthem by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
12:53pm: Fly-by: 4 T-38's from 325th fighter wing Tyndall Air Force Base
1:06pm: Green flag: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
See the starting lineup for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #3-Dillon (rear gear change)
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, two pit stalls (1,2) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
With a 36 car field, pits 7, 16, 38, and 40 will not be used.
Pole winner #18-Busch chose pit stall 3, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole winner #31-Newman took pit stall 3, with an empty box in front of it.
#4-Harvick, who starts 3rd, took the 39th stall, with an empty pit both behind and in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #2-Keselowski, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(2-24-2018)
Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's: (will be added as available)
Official Race & Points Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Happy Hour Practice Speeds
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is over, after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#31-Newman 184.868
#78-Truex, Jr. 184.597
#21-Menard 184.566
#11-Hamlin 183.564
#22-Logano 183.303
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 31 drivers): #11-Hamlin 176.557
slowest: #51-Rhodes 166.948 & #00-Earnhardt 166.672
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (2-24-2018)
Kyle Busch edges Ryan Newman for Monster Energy Atlanta pole: Ryan Newman was within seconds of breaking a pole drought that dates to 2013 - until Kyle Busch made his final-round qualifying run at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Covering the 1.54-mile distance in 30.024 seconds (184.652 mph) in the money round of Friday's knockout qualifying session, Busch edged Newman by .038 seconds to win his first pole of the young Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, his first at Atlanta and the 28th of his career.[More](2-23-2018)
Kyle Busch won the pole for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with speed of 184.652mph for his 1st pole of 2018, 1st at Atlanta and 28th of his career. Busch has won 6 times from the 27 previous poles.
#31-Newman will start 2nd followed by #4-Harvick, #19-Suarez, #2-Keselowski, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #41-Busch, #42-Larson, #14-Bowyer, #20-Jones, #10-Almirola, and #11-Hamlin.
#4-Harvick was fastest in the second round with a speed of 184.535mph, will start 3rd.
#2-Keselowski was quickest in the first round with a speed of 186.434mph, will start 5th.
36 teams were entered so everyone makes the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(2-23-2018)
Atlanta Motor Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the Pole Award for the 59th Annual Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 with a lap of 30.024 seconds, 184.652 mph.
This is his 28th pole in 464 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2018.
This is his first pole in 20 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Ryan Newman (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2018 and his 19th in 26 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It is his second in two races this season.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (19th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-23-2018)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#4-Harvick 184.535
#19-Suarez 184.284
#42-Larson 184.180
#2-Keselowski 183.868
#18-Busch 183.710
the rest of the top 12: 17 31 10 14 20 11
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 1 95 21 22 34 88 43 6 47 48 24 37
(2-23-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is over, after 15 scheduled minutes.
#2-Keselowski 186.434
#4-Harvick 185.610
#14-Bowyer 184.874
#42-Larson 184.646
#1-McMurray 184.646
the rest of the top 24: 19 24 31 22 41 17 18 88 48 11 21 10 20 6 95 47 43 34 37
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 3 12 9 13 38 32 23 72 00 15 78 51
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 36 entered
(2-23-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Speedway is scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2018 at 5:15pm/et.
Television (TV): FS1, 5:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at
Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
• Round 1 -- All entries will have 15 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
• Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
• Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
Qualifying Order for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #34-McDowell.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #31-Newman.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(2-23-2018)
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Crew rosters
Friday practice for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is over, after 80 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#17-Stenhouse, Jr. 186.384
#42-Larson 185.915
#42-Wallace, Jr. 185.834
#13-Dillon 185.648
#88-Bowman 185.294
most laps run: #48-Johnson, 23 laps.
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 6 drivers): #11-Hamlin 178.669
slowest: #72-Whitt 173.099 & #00-Earnhardt 169.220
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Friday Practice speeds (pdf) (2-23-2018)
Entry List for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Ross Chastain, #23-Gaulding, #51-Harrison Rhodes, #72-Whitt.
Since only 36 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Martinsville(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Weather Bug
Weather Underground
Atlanta Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - Atlanta page.(2-20-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Atlanta Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship