The NASCAR Cup Series will return to EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, February 22, for the Autotrader 400, the second race of the 2026 season. Among the competitors, several Team Penske drivers have emerged as favorites heading into the event, highlighting their strong chances at the 1.5-mile track known for drafting. Meanwhile, a couple of Spire Motorsports racers are expected to challenge the favorites and potentially disrupt the outcome.
Leading Drivers from Team Penske Poised for Victory
According to DraftKings Sportsbooks odds, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano from Team Penske, alongside Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, share the distinction of being top favorites at +1000 odds each to win at EchoPark Speedway. Since the track’s reconfiguration in 2022, which transformed it into a drafting-focused layout, Blaney has demonstrated remarkable consistency with six top-10 finishes, although a win has eluded him so far.
Blaney’s strongest result came in 2024 when he finished a close second in a dramatic three-wide finish to Daniel Suarez. Logano, meanwhile, has thrived on this revamped surface, claiming victories in both 2023 and 2024 by expertly navigating the draft, which reinforces his standing among Sunday’s frontrunners.
Defending winner Chase Elliott is a critical figure to watch, having secured wins at EchoPark Speedway last June and in July 2022. Notably, Elliott overtook Brad Keselowski on the final lap to claim the 2025 Quaker State 400, illustrating his ability to perform under pressure on this track.
Additional contenders include Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson, along with Team Penske’s Austin Cindric, each opening at +1200 odds. Byron is a two-time winner at EchoPark Speedway, with consecutive victories in 2022 and 2023, while Larson earned a third-place finish in last year’s February event. Cindric has maintained competitive form by leading laps in every EchoPark race over the past seven events and securing two top-five finishes.
Outsiders from Spire Motorsports Could Shake Up the Field
Though the favorites dominate much of the attention, several longshots are poised to challenge the frontrunners at EchoPark Speedway. Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez enter the race as notable underdogs, with odds of +2500 and +4000, respectively, and the capability to disrupt the expected storyline.
Hocevar delivered an impressive runner-up finish in last February’s race at the track and showed competitive promise at the recent Daytona 500, where he was leading on the white flag lap before being spun out. Suarez, a former winner at EchoPark Speedway from February 2024 while racing for Trackhouse Racing, also placed second in September 2024, showcasing his ability to excel on this draft-heavy circuit.
Another longshot to monitor is Ricky Stenhouse Jr., listed at +2800 odds. Although all four of Stenhouse Jr.’s Cup Series wins have come on drafting tracks, none were at EchoPark. Yet, his recent consistency at the venue is notable—he has not finished worse than 14th in the past five races.
Race Details and Viewing Information
The Autotrader 400 is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, with live coverage available on FOX and radio broadcast through the Performance Racing Network. The race promises intense competition as Team Penske drivers look to capitalize on their strong form while challengers from Spire Motorsports hope to upset the established order at this pivotal NASCAR Cup Series event.
