HAMPTON, Ga. (WALB) – Stock car racing is returning to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. WALB spoke to an official with the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton about what to expect during the race on Sun, Feb. 25.
That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Thanks for being here. And I guess with the race coming up this upcoming weekend and Better Health 400. What can race fans expect going into the 2024 NASCAR season?
“Race fans can expect more of what they’ve come grown accustomed to at Atlanta Motor Speedway, we’ve got some of the most exciting racing on the circuit,” Brandon Hutchinson with Atlanta Motor Speedway said. “And we also make sure that when cars aren’t on track, fans have entertainment options throughout the entire property throughout the entire race this weekend so they can expect a good time and great weather in Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.”
That’s awesome. That’s awesome. And this weekend you mentioned, some other things race fans can do. What are some of those events that race fans are able to see, along with a great evening of racing?
“Yeah, absolutely. Of course, we’ve got the doubleheader on Saturday, the Craftsman truck series race the Raptor 250 the XFINITY series race when we conclude racing on Saturday. We’ve got a big party on the infield. We’ll have a laser light show mechanical bulls fireworks, we’ll have a band playing as well. On Sunday. We’ve got trackside live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts. We’ve got driver Q&A. We’ve got kids zones. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on the pre-race stage as well. It will get the better health 400. So it’s going to be a great weekend full of entertainment for those fans that come and join us,” Hutchinson said.
That’s great. It’s great. And I guess with all this racing that’s going on where can fans actually get their tickets for this upcoming race and I’m sure they’re still available right now and what kind of price range would spectators expect to see for this race?
“Yeah, we had great weather weekend on tap. So, we know those tickets will be going quick this week, but fans can go to Atlanta Motor Speedway.com Look through the website, find a price point that works well for you and your family. Or they can go to 87798 M S T. I spoke to an agent. It’s going to be a great weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hopefully, your viewers will come join us.”
Awesome. I hope they do. I hope to be up there myself. I like being on turn three and four and that’s usually the best place for me to get some good pictures and some, good action shots. And, you know, the Daytona 500 has been moved to today. And you just mentioned that this is going to be a perfect weekend. weather-wise. Will The delayed Daytona 500 actually impact any racing this weekend over in Atlanta?
“Yeah, that’s a great question. It’s very unfortunate, but I’m thankful we’re getting to run the Daytona 500. Today. It will not affect the events at Atlanta Motor Speedway whatsoever. We have plenty of time for the haulers to get out of Daytona back to Charlotte. Turn around, get down here to Atlanta. So the am Better Health 400 race weekend will go off without a hitch and as we’ve talked about, the weather is going to be great so fans can make their plans on schedule for the race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.”
I know Joey Legato is slated for P one out there on the track. I know last year at the Ambetter Health 400 He was actually the one that was able to take it home. Get there on Victory Lane. What do you think of that in 2024? The start of the 2024 NASCAR season Do you think he’s going to have a good shot this year both of the Daytona 500 and maybe a return victory in Atlanta?
“You’re dealing with 40 of the best drivers in the world. So I think they all have a chance to be racing for a championship in Phoenix but Joey Logano is certainly one that is close to the top. I don’t know what the odds are in Vegas right now, but I bet they’re pretty good towards Joey Logano. Hey, it was a last-lap pass during the Ambetter Health 400 Last year against Brad Keselowski. Joey grew up racing here. He’s probably been in victory lane more than any other driver on the circuit. Of course, that was a first win on the big track. So while he’s been there a lot it was his first time in the cup series. So that was a lot of fun for him as well as a lot of fun for us. I think it’s great seeing him on the poll for date Daytona later today. I think it just shows that the Penske state team is very, very strong. They’re coming off a championship season. They got the pole in Daytona. It’s going to be a great year for Joey Legato, the whole Penske team, but hey, listen, hopefully, those Chevrolets will run strong and maybe we’ll see a Chevrolet in victory lane here next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway.”
All right. And, you know, to top that off, is I believe this is going to be the fifth cup series race is going to be run on the track since it’s being repaid. Are the drivers still reacting positively to that repayment? Is it still fast Speedway is it’s still exciting for the fans to be out there and watch. While you’re probably not ever going to get 100% of the drivers to agree on something you know, the majority of the majority of them love it. We know for our fans, it has created an edge-of-the-seat excitement that what’s most important for us is that our fans come to Atlanta Motor Speedway and have a great time and I’ll tell you, the racing those guys have put on has been second to none. We’ve got the best racing on the circuit, but most of the drivers would tell you it has created a style of racing like they’ve never seen before. And that’s something they like they’re all competitors as I said earlier, they’re the best in the world so they’re ready for is going to be white knuckle racing for the drivers and like I said edge of seat excitement for the fans.
That’s awesome. And I guess when is the actual time for those races happening? This weekend?
“Yeah, the doubleheader on Saturday gets kicked off at two o’clock with the freight to LA followed by the Raptor kick-off at 2:50 and 5 p.m. Hey, don’t forget kids are free on Saturday and then the am Better Help 400 is at 3 p.m.”
We really appreciate the opportunity, and we hope to see you there if not catch us on TV and enjoy the race, come on out to Atlanta Motor Speedway real soon
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