It’s no secret that NASCAR drivers want to win every race. That’s a given, but at the same time, it’s not possible.
What, then, happens when a pattern is established at a certain race track? What happens when in some location, one or two manufacturers figure something out before the other? Exactly what’s happening with Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Plenty of NASCAR Cup Series drivers have been asked the same question this week in different forms – should the series race at Atlanta twice a year? Does the real season start next week? Have these first two races been more or as important as the next few? The answers have varied drastically, but before the green flag drops today, a clear pattern has been established.
The Fords and Chevrolets? They’re here to win. The Toyotas? Not as much. Why is that, though?
It’s simple — because the Fords and Chevrolets can win. Look at qualifying, for instance. Ford has the front row locked out, with a Chevy and another Ford right behind them. No Toyota makes an appearance on the grid until Martin Truex Jr. back in 12th.
Christopher Bell, who will start 22nd, spoke openly about how he and many other drivers feel like the real season doesn’t even start this week. According to Bell, it starts next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I don’t know if [Atlanta’s] really any different than Talladega or Daytona, and Toyota has not won a superspeedway race until the duels, and that’s still only half a race,” Bell said. “But yeah, we haven’t won a superspeedway race since the introduction of Next Gen cars, so I think that means there’s something we need to improve on.
“… I think the majority of the drivers will say that the real season starts next week. I personally don’t like having two superspeedways back-to-back, and I think that a lot of people are on the same page.”
Ford drivers seem to share a different sentiment. In his press conference on Saturday, 2022 Cup Series champion Joey Logano noted that these races matter just as much as the others.
“They’re still giving out points, they’re still handing out trophies and they’re still handing out money,” Logano said.
Austin Cindric noted that for his team, these first two weeks are great chances.
“For us, it’s two really great opportunities to win races,” Cindric said. “We’ve been able to bring really fast race cars to not only Daytona, obviously, but Atlanta has been really good…
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