NASCAR Heads to Atlanta After Daytona 500

How to watch the upcoming Atlanta race, including TV channel and schedule details.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The NASCAR season continues this weekend with the second race of the 26-race regular season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Over 7 million viewers tuned in to watch the Daytona 500 last Sunday, and now the series heads to Atlanta for a full weekend of racing across NASCAR's three national series - the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series.

Why it matters

Atlanta Motor Speedway has undergone changes in recent years, including the addition of restrictor plates, making the racing more unpredictable and exciting for fans. With the season just getting underway, this race at Atlanta will provide an early indication of which drivers and teams are poised for strong seasons.

The details

The race weekend kicks off on Friday with qualifying for the Truck and Xfinity Series. On Saturday, the Cup Series has its qualifying session, followed by Truck and Xfinity Series races. The main event is the Cup Series race on Sunday afternoon, which will air on Fox.

  • The Truck Series qualifying is at 3 p.m. on Friday.
  • The Xfinity Series qualifying is at 5 p.m. on Friday.
  • The Cup Series qualifying is at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
  • The Truck Series race is at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
  • The Xfinity Series race is at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
  • The Cup Series race is at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The players

Atlanta Motor Speedway

The racetrack that now goes by the name EchoPark, located in Atlanta, Georgia. The track has undergone changes in recent years, including the addition of restrictor plates, to make the racing more unpredictable.

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The takeaway

With the Daytona 500 in the rearview mirror, NASCAR fans can look forward to an exciting weekend of racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the 2026 season continues to take shape. The changes to the Atlanta track in recent years have made the racing more unpredictable, setting the stage for an intriguing second race of the year.