2026 Quaker State 400
| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 20 of 36 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | July 12–13, 2026 | ||
| Location | Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 1.54 miles (2.48 km) | ||
| Distance | 263 laps, 405.02 mi (651.835 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 260 laps, 400.4 mi (644.4 km) | ||
| Average speed | 124.995 miles per hour (201.160 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Team Penske | ||
| Time | 30.815 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | |
| Laps | 171 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | |
| Time | 29.905 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | TNT | ||
| Announcers | Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Steve Letarte | ||
| Nielsen ratings | 1.5 million | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | PRN | ||
| Booth announcers | Brad Gillie and Mark Garrow | ||
| Turn announcers | Mark Jaynes (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4) | ||
The 2026 Quaker State 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 12 and 13, 2026, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 263 laps on the 1.54-mile-long (2.48 km) asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway (with superspeedway rules), extended from the original 260 laps due to a overtime finish, it was the 20th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the third race of the 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge.
Ryan Blaney won the race. Christopher Bell finished 2nd, and Carson Hocevar finished 3rd. Ty Gibbs and Erik Jones rounded out the top five, and Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher rounded out the top ten. Bubba Wallace initially finished 2nd but was demoted to 29th after going below the yellow line on the backstraight in the final lap.
Both Reddick and Denny Hamlin officially clinched their spots in The Chase.[8]
Report
Background
Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021.[9][10] The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.
On June 3, 2025, SMI announced the track's renaming to EchoPark Speedway under a new seven-year sponsorship deal with the Smith family-owned business, EchoPark. The renaming ended a 35-year stint under the Atlanta Motor Speedway name.[11]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Qualifying
Ryan Blaney scored the pole for the race with a time of 30.815 and a speed of 179.912 mph (289.540 km/h).[12]
Qualifying results
Race
Race results
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 1 |
Stage Two Laps: 100
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Daniel Suárez | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 100
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 263 | 75 |
| 2 | 32 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 263 | 39 |
| 3 | 14 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 39 |
| 4 | 23 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 263 | 38 |
| 5 | 11 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 263 | 35 |
| 6 | 12 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 32 |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 34 |
| 8 | 31 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 263 | 47 |
| 9 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 263 | 43 |
| 10 | 13 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 263 | 27 |
| 11 | 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 26 |
| 12 | 28 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 263 | 27 |
| 13 | 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 26 |
| 14 | 8 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 263 | 36 |
| 15 | 18 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 22 |
| 16 | 26 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 21 |
| 17 | 33 | 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team | Chevrolet | 263 | 20 |
| 18 | 24 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 263 | 19 |
| 19 | 21 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 263 | 18 |
| 20 | 16 | 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 17 |
| 21 | 5 | 7 | Daniel Suárez | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 22 |
| 22 | 6 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 15 |
| 23 | 15 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 14 |
| 24 | 19 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | 263 | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 21 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 263 | 12 |
| 26 | 10 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 263 | 11 |
| 27 | 36 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 263 | 10 |
| 28 | 25 | 88 | Connor Zilisch (R) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 9 |
| 29 | 22 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 263 | 9 |
| 30 | 34 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 262 | 7 |
| 31 | 30 | 33 | Austin Hill (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 263 | 0 |
| 32 | 35 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 259 | 6 |
| 33 | 38 | 66 | Chad Finchum (i) | Garage 66 | Ford | 259 | 0 |
| 34 | 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 258 | 11 |
| 35 | 29 | 35 | Riley Herbst | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 255 | 2 |
| 36 | 20 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 254 | 4 |
| 37 | 27 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 230 | 1 |
| 38 | 37 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 1 |
| Official race results | |||||||
Race statistics
- Lead changes: 30 among 10 different drivers
- Cautions/Laps: 7 for 49
- Red flags: 1 for 3 hours, 9 minutes and 18 seconds
- Time of race: 3 hours, 14 minutes and 25 seconds
- Average speed: 124.995 miles per hour (201.160 km/h)
Media
Television
TNT covered the race on the television side. Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Marty Snider, Shannon Spake, Danielle Trotta and Mamba Smith handled pit road for the television side.
| TNT | |
|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Color-commentator: Steve Letarte | Marty Snider Shannon Spake Danielle Trotta Mamba Smith |
Radio
The race was broadcast on radio by the Performance Racing Network and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Brad Gillie and Nick Yeoman called the race from the booth when the field races down the front stretch. Mark Jaynes called the race from atop a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field races through turns 1 and 2, and Doug Turnbull called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field races through turns 3 and 4. On pit road, PRN was manned by Andrew Kurland, David Styles and Doug Turnbull.
| PRN | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Brad Gillie Announcer: Nick Yeoman | Turns 1 & 2: Mark Jaynes Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Andrew Kurland David Styles Doug Turnbull |
Standings after the race
|
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NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket
| Sonoma | Chicagoland | Atlanta | North Wilkesboro | Indianapolis | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | #45 Tyler Reddick | 36th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | #48 Alex Bowman | 10th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | #48 Bowman | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | #2 Cindric | 13th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | #2 Austin Cindric | 13th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | #6 Brad Keselowski | 15th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | #48 Bowman | 22nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | #34 Gilliland | 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | #7 Daniel Suárez | 31st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | #34 Todd Gilliland | 29th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | #34 Gilliland | 16th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | #77 Hocevar | 22nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | #77 Carson Hocevar | 11th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | #38 Zane Smith | 18th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | #34 Gilliland | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | #9 Elliott | 17th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | #19 Chase Briscoe | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | #16 A. J. Allmendinger | 16th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | #19 Briscoe | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | #54 Ty Gibbs | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | #54 Ty Gibbs | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | #3 Austin Dillon | 27th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | #19 Briscoe | 36th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | #9 Elliott | 13th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | #23 Bubba Wallace | 22nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | #71 Michael McDowell | 9th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | #71 McDowell | 29th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | #9 Elliott | 11th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | #9 Chase Elliott | 17th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | #4 Noah Gragson | 32nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | #34 Gilliland | 24th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | #12 Blaney | 26th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | #11 Denny Hamlin | 26th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | #10 Ty Dillon | 35th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | #11 Hamlin | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | #43 Jones | 15th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | #43 Erik Jones | 23rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | #22 Joey Logano | 24th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | #11 Hamlin | 12th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | #20 Bell | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | #17 Chris Buescher | 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | #42 John Hunter Nemechek | 25th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | #17 Buescher | 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | #20 Bell | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | #20 Christopher Bell | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | #1 Ross Chastain | 14th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | #20 Bell | 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | #12 Blaney | 11th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | #24 William Byron | 12th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 21st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | #24 Byron | 4th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | #5 Larson | 34th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | #5 Kyle Larson | 4th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | #35 Riley Herbst | 30th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | #24 Byron | 16th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | #12 Blaney | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | #97 Shane van Gisbergen | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | #60 Ryan Preece | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | #97 van Gisbergen | 25th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | #12 Blaney | 7th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | #12 Ryan Blaney | 6th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | #21 Josh Berry | 28th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ "2026 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ↑ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ↑ "Atlanta Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ↑ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Quaker State 400 Results". Racing-Reference. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Page, Scott (July 14, 2026). "Atlanta Cup race TV ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ MacKenzie, Maggie (July 13, 2026). "First Two Drivers Officially Clinch Spots in NASCAR Playoffs". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Atlanta Motor Speedway to re-profile track in 2022 and drivers are expressing frustration with the changes". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ↑ "Atlanta Motor Speedway track reprofile begins | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ↑ Spanberg, Erik (June 3, 2025). "NASCAR track in Atlanta gets new name with Charlotte ties". Charlotte Business Journals. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ DeGroot, Nick (July 11, 2026). "NASCAR Cup Atlanta starting lineup: Penske 1-2 with Ryan Blaney on pole". Motorsport.com. Hampton, Georgia: Motorsport Network. Retrieved July 11, 2026.