After a crash-filled Daytona 500, NASCAR proceeds into Atlanta’s weathered 1.54-mile asphalt trail.

As the surface allows for side-by-side racing in numerous grooves the track is favored by many NASCAR drivers. Tires wear out quite quickly on the oblong, setting a higher significance on long-run speed.

Kevin Harvick won the first two phases at Atlanta, but Brad Keselowski was allowed by a penalty to swoop in for the checkered flag. Keselowski handed Kyle Larson for the lead with six laps to go for his first win of 2017.

All eyes will be on Georgia native Chase Elliott this weekend has he looks to catch his first Cup Series win in his hometown track. Back at the No. 9 car, a number made famous by his Hall of Fame father Bill, Chase does have a fair shot to win based on last year’s figures.

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Elliott listed two second-place finishes, seven top fives, and nine top-10s in 1.5-mile paths in 2017. The Dawsonville, Ga., native also averaged the third-best average end of Cup drivers (9.82) on 1.5-mile tracks last year.

Before Keselowski’s win Elliott’s teammate Jimmie Johnson was successful in two Atlanta races that are consecutive. Johnson, who owns a Cup Series record 28 wins on 1.5-mile paths in his profession, has five wins, 14 top fives together with a series-best driver rating of 105.4 at Atlanta.

While Johnson has been the old king of 1.5-mile tracks, our choice to win Sunday is reigning champion Martin Truex Jr., who has been nearly unbeatable at intermediate ovals.

Truex won seven of those 11 1.5-mile speedway races last season with nine top fives for an average end of 2.5. He is still looking for his first win at Atlanta but we expect him to get the job done Sunday (if the rain holds off) despite starting from the rear of the field.

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