NASCAR Best Bets: Autotrader 400 Predictions, Picks on DraftKings Sportsbook

Pearce Dietrich gives his top NASCAR bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader 400 at Atlanta.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Atlanta for the Autotrader 400, a race on the newly reconfigured 1.5-mile superspeedway. Pearce Dietrich provides his top NASCAR bets and predictions for the race on DraftKings Sportsbook, highlighting drivers like Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as potential winners in the unpredictable pack racing format.

Why it matters

The Autotrader 400 at Atlanta is the second straight superspeedway race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, providing an opportunity for underdogs and long shots to pull off a win. Bettors will need to take a more aggressive approach compared to intermediate and short-track races, as the pack racing format makes the outcome highly unpredictable.

The details

Atlanta Motor Speedway was reconfigured in 2022, transforming the old, worn-out intermediate track into a 1.5-mile, steeply banked superspeedway. This new track layout has led to a pack racing format, where any driver can win or wreck at any moment. Dietrich suggests that playing favorites may be a favorable strategy, as the Gen-7 stock car is well-suited for superspeedway racing. He highlights Ryan Blaney as the elite superspeedway driver to target, while also recommending longer shots like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who has performed well at Atlanta in recent years.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader 400 will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Ryan Blaney

An elite NASCAR driver who has found success on superspeedways.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

A mercurial superspeedway driver who has nearly won at Atlanta multiple times and finished in the top 10 in four of the last five Atlanta races.

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What they’re saying

“An argument can be made that playing favorites is a favorable strategy in Atlanta. This isn't a pure superspeedway, and the Gen-7 stock car is a superspeedway car. Atlanta can turn into a lap-eating race. The pack circles for 400 miles. No one gets out of line. Runs are dependent on the push of a pack of cars, and a sustained third line is difficult at this unique superspeedway. This track gives an edge to the elite, and no driver is more elite at the superspeedways than Ryan Blaney.”

— Pearce Dietrich, Author (draftkings.com)

“This is a week to roll the dice. Gamblers can be conservative at the intermediate and short-track races. Top-10 finish picks make sense to safe and wise wagerers. There's nothing safe about superspeedways. There's no sure thing. There are only long shots, so take your shot.”

— Pearce Dietrich, Author (draftkings.com)

What’s next

The Autotrader 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The takeaway

The reconfiguration of Atlanta Motor Speedway into a high-banked superspeedway has created an unpredictable pack racing format, where underdogs and long shots have a chance to pull off a win. Bettors will need to take a more aggressive approach compared to intermediate and short-track races, as the outcome is highly uncertain.