Cody Ware Faces Intense Pack Racing at EchoPark Speedway

After leading laps at Daytona, driver prepares for tight confines and high speeds at Atlanta-area track

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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NASCAR driver Cody Ware is gearing up for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta, where he expects more intense pack-style racing similar to what he experienced at the Daytona 500. The 1.54-mile oval's tight corners and high speeds will test Ware's reflexes and decision-making as he navigates the 39-car field.

Why it matters

EchoPark Speedway's layout creates a unique challenge for drivers, with its combination of high speeds, tight corners, and the need to work the throttle to manage the pack. Ware's performance at this race could be a key indicator of his ability to excel in these types of high-intensity, pack-style events.

The details

Ware led laps at the Daytona 500 and finished 17th, but expects the racing at EchoPark Speedway to be even more intense. The track's 28-degree banked corners and 40-foot-wide surface allow for wide-open qualifying laps, but in the race, drivers have to carefully modulate the throttle to manage the pack. Ware says the tight corners limit visibility, requiring excellent communication with his spotter to make quick decisions.

  • The Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 23, 2026 at 3 p.m. EST.
  • Qualifying for the race will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2026 at 11 a.m. EST.

The players

Cody Ware

NASCAR driver competing in the No. 51 Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing.

Brent Wentz

Cody Ware's spotter, who provides critical information to help Ware navigate the tight confines of EchoPark Speedway.

BlueHighway.ai

An integrated waterway infrastructure platform that is sponsoring Cody Ware's car for the Autotrader 400.

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What they’re saying

“Superspeedway racing is always a game of mental chess. It tests your reaction times, how you process information, how well you make decisions in the heat of the moment, and it all comes with a healthy dose of stress, but the stress is amped up to a hundred at Atlanta.”

— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver (Speedway Digest)

“You're always freer than you really want to be at Atlanta, but you really have to be with the way the aero works. Between the draft and the dirty air and drag that comes with it, you've got to have a free racecar to keep going wide open, or almost wide open. It puts you on a knife's edge, but you make a lot of speed that way. You find a way of getting comfortable being uncomfortable at Atlanta.”

— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver (Speedway Digest)

What’s next

Ware will look to qualify well on Saturday to secure a strong starting position for Sunday's Autotrader 400. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Ware's performance at the high-intensity, pack-style race at EchoPark Speedway will be a true test of his reflexes, decision-making, and ability to thrive in the tight confines of the Atlanta-area track. His success could hinge on his communication with his spotter and his willingness to push the limits of his car's handling.