What’s Happening?

For as “New” as the Atlanta reconfiguration seems to many fans, the track has been in this configuration for 2 full seasons, including 4 races. While not a large sample size, tendencies have emerged, and some drivers have not taken too kindly to the “New Atlanta”. Who are the WORST Current Drivers at the “New” Atlanta?

• This list will consist only of current full-time Cup Series drivers. Only their Cup Series statistics will count, and priority will be given to drivers who have competed in all 4 races at the track.
• Statistics will also only include races in Atlanta since 2022. No races from the previous iteration of Atlanta will be counted.
• Fans are very excited about this weekend’s race, but, some fans may be concerned about how their drivers perform. Which fans should be the most concerned?

Chase Briscoe

Stats: Avg. Finish (19.25), Laps Led (5), Top-5s (0), Top-10s (0), Best Finish (15th)

Breakdown: While Chase Briscoe has not been completely awful at Atlanta as he did win a pole in 2022, he has been underwhelming. Especially considering how well Ford performed on superspeedways in 2023 with 3 wins and leading the most laps in every superspeedway race they did not win. Briscoe still did not manage to finish inside the top-20, even though his teammate, Aric Almirola, won a pole at Atlanta in the summer.

Austin Dillon

Stats: Avg. Finish (27.75) Laps Led (0), Top-5s (0), Top-10s (0), Best Finish (20th)

Breakdown: Dillon has not been a factor in any Atlanta races since the reconfiguration, which is surprising given that he is a 2-time winner at Daytona, a superspeedway. However, Atlanta just has not been a good track for him, and that includes just one finish inside of the top-20 since the 2022 season began. Not a great look for Dillon.

Ryan Preece

Stats: Avg. Finish (26.00) Laps Led (0), Top-5s (0), Top-10s (0), Best Finish (24th)

Breakdown: While Ryan Preece only has 2 races under his belt at the new Atlanta, they have both been very bad. He failed to record a top-20 in either trip to Atlanta in 2023, and that came despite Ford being particularly good on superspeedways in 2023. He can change that narrative with a solid run this weekend.

Noah Gragson

Stats: Avg. Finish (279.00) Laps Led (0), Top-5s (0), Top-10s (0), Best Finish (12th)

Breakdown: While Gragson did record his best finish of 2023 in the spring at Atlanta, every other race for him there has been a disaster. He failed to finish either Atlanta race in 2022, and he has one top-30 finish in his career at the track. There has been one decent race amongst a sea of awful races for Gragson.

Kyle Larson

Stats: Avg. Finish (27.50) Laps Led (5), Top-5s (0), Top-10s (0), Best Finish (13th)

Breakdown: Atlanta was a good track for Larson before the reconfiguration, but, he has been awful at the track since. He has 3 DNFs in the four races there, with his only finish coming in July of 2022. He finished a pedestrian 13th that day, so, it’s either been bad or eh for Larson at Atlanta.

Will any of these drivers turn the narrative around at Atlanta this weekend, or will they continue to struggle?