Cup Series At Atlanta: Full Autotrader 400 Starting Lineup

The NASCAR Cup Series returned to EchoPark Speedway outside Atlanta for Week 2 of the season, but this time, Mother Nature dictated the storyline. Persistent rain showers forced NASCAR to cancel Saturday morning’s qualifying session for the Autotrader 400, leaving the starting lineup to be set by the sport’s metric formula rather than on‑track performance.

Tyler Reddick, fresh off an emotional Daytona 500 victory, will lead the field to green, with Joey Logano joining him on the front row for Sunday’s race. The washout didn’t just shuffle the grid, it reshaped the competitive landscape.

Teams lost valuable track time, crew chiefs lost critical setup data, and several organizations now face additional challenges after pre‑race inspection penalties compounded an already unpredictable weekend. What was expected to be a straightforward qualifying day quickly turned into a strategic curveball that will influence every lap of Sunday’s race.

Qualifying Overview: Who Benefited, Who Lost Out, And Why It Matters

Reddick Lands The Pole Through NASCAR’s Metric Formula

Tyler Reddick’s Daytona 500 triumph proved decisive in securing the pole position once qualifying was canceled. NASCAR’s metric system, which weighs finishing position, owner points, and fastest lap rankings, placed the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota at the top of the board. Reddick’s recent performance gives him a clean launch point at a track where early control can help avoid the chaos of pack racing.

Starting from the pole at Atlanta doesn’t guarantee safety, but it does offer a brief window of calm before the field settles into the tight, high‑speed packs that define the reconfigured speedway. For Reddick, who has shown increasing comfort in superspeedway‑style racing, the pole provides an opportunity to dictate the early tempo.

Logano, Stenhouse, And Elliott Form A Strong Front Group

Joey Logano will start second after his runner‑up finish at Daytona, giving Team Penske a prime opportunity to control the opening laps. Logano’s superspeedway instincts and ability to manage lanes make him one of the most dangerous drivers in the field when the draft becomes unpredictable.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. starts third, continuing his early‑season momentum, while hometown favorite Chase Elliott rolls off fourth for Hendrick Motorsports. Elliott’s strong starting spot is particularly meaningful at a track where he has historically performed well and where fan support is always at its peak.

Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five, giving RFK Racing both speed and strategic flexibility. With teammate Chris Buescher starting seventh, RFK enters Sunday with one of the strongest drafting tandems in the field.

Teams Lose Valuable Track Time

The rainout eliminated a crucial opportunity for teams to gather data on Atlanta’s unique configuration. Since its 2022 reconfiguration, the track has raced like a hybrid superspeedway, demanding precise balance, aerodynamic stability, and tire management. Without qualifying laps, teams must rely on historical notes, simulation work, and educated guesses, a disadvantage for organizations still searching for speed or adapting to new personnel.

For rookies and drivers with new crew chiefs, the loss of track time is even more significant. Atlanta’s narrow groove and pack‑racing tendencies require confidence and familiarity, both of which are harder to build without on‑track reps.

Key Developments From Saturday

Inspection Failures Trigger Penalties

The weekend took another turn when NASCAR announced that Richard Childress Racing and another Cup Series team failed inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of their car chiefs. Losing a car chief disrupts communication, slows adjustments, and forces teams to reshuffle responsibilities under pressure.

RCR’s Kyle Busch will start 14th, while teammate Austin Dillon rolls off 31st, a difficult position at a track where mid‑pack turbulence can quickly lead to trouble. For a team already seeking redemption after a challenging Daytona 500, the penalties add another layer of difficulty.

Pit Stall Penalties Add To The Challenge

Both penalized teams also forfeited pit selection for Sunday’s race. At a track where pit road is tight and track position is volatile, a poor pit stall can cost valuable seconds and derail strategy. Crew chiefs must now adjust their race plans, knowing that pit road traffic and compromised angles could influence every stop.

For smaller teams, the penalty is even more punishing. Without the depth of resources enjoyed by larger organizations, losing a car chief and pit selection can create a ripple effect that lasts the entire weekend.

Autotrader 400 Starting Lineup

NASCAR Cup Series: EchoPark Speedway At Atlanta

1. Tyler Reddick— No. 45 — 23 XI Racing
2. Joey Logano — No. 22 — Team Penske
3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — No. 47 — HYAK Motorsports
4. Chase Elliott— No. 9 — Hendrick Motorsports
5. Brad Keselowski — No. 6 — RFK Racing
6. Zane Smith — No. 38 — Front Row Motorsports
7. Chris Buescher— No. 17 — RFK Racing
8. Riley Herbst— No. 35 — 23XI Racing
9. Bubba Wallace — No. 23 — 23XI Racing
10. Josh Berry— No. 21 — Wood Brothers Racing
11. Noah Gragson — No. 4 — Front Row Motorsports
12. Daniel Suarez— No. 7 — Spire Motorsports
13. William Byron — No. 24 — Hendrick Motorsports
14. Kyle Busch— No. 8 — Richard Childress Racing
15. Carson Hocevar — No. 77 — Spire Motorsports
16. Kyle Larson— No. 5 — Hendrick Motorsports
17. Ty Dillon— No. 10 — Kaulig Racing
18. Cody Ware — No. 51 — Rick Ware Racing
19. A.J. Allmendinger— No. 16 — Kaulig Racing
20. Michael McDowell
21. Ross Chastain— No. 1 — Trackhouse Racing
22. Ryan Blaney— No. 12 — Team Penske
23. Erik Jones— No. 43 — Legacy Motor Club
24. John H. Nemechek— No. 42 — Legacy Motor Club
25. Ty Gibbs— No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing
26. Ryan Preece — No. 60 — RFK Racing
27. Cole Custer— No. 41 — Haas Factory Team
28. Shane van Gisbergen— No. 97 — Trackhouse Racing
29. Denny Hamlin — No. 11 — Joe Gibbs Racing
30. Austin Cindric — No. 2 — Team Penske
31. Connor Zilisch— No. 88 — Trackhouse Racing
32. Christopher Bell— No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing
33. Austin Dillon— No. 3 — Richard Childress Racing
34. Chase Briscoe— No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing
35. Todd Gilliland — No. 34 — Front Row Motorsports
36. Alex Bowman— No. 48 — Hendrick Motorsports
37. B.J. McLeod— No. 78 — Live Fast Motorsports
38. J.J. Yeley— No. 44 — NY Racing Team

Who Looks Strongest Heading Into Race Day

Reddick enters Sunday at Atlanta with momentum and a front‑row advantage, but Atlanta’s pack‑racing format ensures no one is safe. Logano, Elliott, and Stenhouse all have strong superspeedway pedigrees, while RFK Racing’s Keselowski and Buescher continue to show speed on drafting tracks.

Mid‑pack drivers like Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, and William Byron remain threats, especially as the race evolves into long green‑flag stretches where strategy, pit execution, and drafting alliances become critical. Atlanta’s style of racing rewards patience early and aggression late, a combination that plays into the hands of experienced superspeedway racers.

What Atlanta’s Layout Means For Sunday

Atlanta’s reconfiguration has turned the track into a hybrid superspeedway, where drafting, lane control, and timing matter as much as horsepower. The narrow groove forces drivers to commit early, and the wrong push can unravel a run instantly. Tire wear remains a defining factor, and those who balance aggression with preservation will be positioned to strike late.

The track’s abrasive surface also adds complexity. While the draft keeps the field tight, tire falloff can create separation during long green‑flag runs. Teams that manage both the air and the rubber will have the best chance to contend in the closing laps.

Championship Implications

With only the second race of the season underway at Atlanta, early consistency is vital. Reddick’s pole gives him a chance to build on his Daytona success, while drivers like Elliott, Logano, and Keselowski can capitalize on strong starting spots. For teams hit with penalties, Sunday becomes a test of resilience and execution.

A strong finish at Atlanta can set the tone for the early stretch of the season, especially with the West Coast swing looming. Momentum matters, and so does avoiding early‑season mistakes.

What’s Next

The Atlanta rainout may have reshaped the weekend, but it also set the stage for one of the most unpredictable races of the early season. With Reddick on pole, Logano alongside, and a field stacked with superspeedway talent, the Autotrader 400 promises intensity from the drop of the green flag.

Atlanta rewards discipline, punishes impatience, and rarely allows anyone to escape unchallenged. As the field takes the green on Sunday afternoon, 38 drivers will battle for momentum, points, and early‑season control on one of NASCAR’s most volatile tracks.