Looming Circuit of The Americas race brings intrigue to Cup Series field
NASCAR CUP SERIES
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
Published: February 28, 2025
3 Minute Read
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Kyle Larson makes surprising admission after Atlanta
SamraSource
Kyle Larson made a surprising admission following this past weekend’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, revealing he’s more fond of the track’s former style, from before it underwent it’s now-beloved reconfiguration in 2021.
The Hampton, Georgia speedway’s change from a classic intermediate to a drafting-style track was a controversial one, but it’s created some entertaining racing over the past few seasons. After another highly successful weekend at the track, where Larson finished P3, Atlanta received immense praise for the show it put on once again.
However, it’s evident Larson still isn’t the biggest fan of the venue since its transformation. During an appearance on Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast, the Hendrick Motorsports star explained why he fancied Atlanta more before the reconfiguration, even if he’s doesn’t wholeheartedly disliked how the track races now.
“I would still prefer the old Atlanta, just because I feel like I would have, selfishly, a better shot,” Larson proclaimed. “But, like pure entertainment value? I don’t know how it comes across on TV, but behind the wheel, it’s tense. It’s so tense. I mean, just gripped to the wheel. Little movements. It’s fun.
“It’s what I wish that Daytona and Talladega were. Because then I think we would all enjoy it more. The fans would enjoy it more. The racing would be better. But I just think Atlanta’s a good size. It’s a small track, and the corner radius — you don’t have the grip that you want, and there’s like gaps and holes to fill. Yeah, Daytona and Talladega, you’re just like, [shrugging].”
All told, it’s easy to see why Larson believes Atlanta was better before the seismic shift. Before his podium finish this past weekend, he finished P30 or worse in his last four trips to the track. That’s enough to kill anyone’s love for a place, even if the fans have praised the action they’ve seen.
Of course, superspeedway racing has also given Larson fits in the past, so adding another drafting-style track to the mix, instead of the intermediate-style that the former champion thrives on, is something he isn’t going to have a lot of support for. Still, he’s improved year and year at the medium, and he certainly makes up for his struggles with his immense success elsewhere throughout the season.
The old Atlanta Motor Speedway isn’t coming back, so it’s something Kyle Larson is just going to have to get used to. His P3 finish is evidence that he’s starting to figure it out though, and he’s getting closer and closer to notching his first win at the track.
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NASCAR Atlanta results: Larson finishes third in Cup Series photo finish
HAMPTON, Ga. – Kyle Larson came oh so close to his first drafting track win on Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
But his consolation prizes came in the forms of a top-five finish, a stage win and a much-needed, solid points day.
Larson won stage two, took an overtime restart in the lead and wound up third as a caution flag flew on the final lap of an overtime restart. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet was three wide with race-winner Christopher Bell and second-place Carson Hocevar when a crash broke out behind them. Timing and scoring left Larson two spots short.
“The restart, obviously (Bell) got to my right side but I don’t know what I did wrong or right,” Larson said. “Just didn’t get the caution to come out late enough until I got the run back to the inside. Came up a little bit short but proud of the effort today by everybody on the HendrickCars.com Chevy and, yeah, finally finished at Atlanta and finally got to run up front.”
The Hendrick Motorsports foursome quickly rose from their starting positions and were factors at the front nearly all race long. William Byron tallied eight points in the first stage and added seven more in stage two. Larson found himself at the front of the field on the last lap of stage two and held the field off for a pivotal stage win to score 10 points and a playoff point to boot. Alex Bowman led laps in the second stage as well, adding six tallies to his season points total with a fifth-place showing. Finally, Chase Elliott scored six points for finishing fifth in stage one.
However, the longer the race stretched on, the more chaos ensued. Elliott was caught up in a crash early in the third stage but rallied from down two laps to come home 20th. Bowman finished 26th and Byron 27th after also being collected in wrecks down the stretch.
The race featured 15 different leaders and a track-record 50 lead changes.
The Cup Series returns next week with a race at Circuit of the Americas.
