HAMPTON, Georgia – NASCAR returns to EchoPark Speedway this weekend for its second race event of the 2026 season, following a tripleheader kickoff at Daytona last week. Located in Hampton, Georgia, the venue formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway continues its evolution after being renamed and reconfigured into a drafting-style superspeedway in 2022, creating intense pack racing similar to what fans see at Daytona and Talladega.
Chase Elliott, a Georgia native and the most recent Cup Series winner at EchoPark Speedway, aims to defend his title after last summer’s victory at the reworked track. Elliott came close to winning the Daytona 500 recently, finishing fourth after losing the lead to Tyler Reddick in the final moments of the race.
Chase Elliott Reflects on Racing Near Home and Last Year’s Victory
During a recent Zoom call with the media, Elliott shared his thoughts on competing so close to his hometown and the impact of his previous win at EchoPark Speedway.
“It’s nice to say close to home, number one, but number two, I think it’s the excitement and the energy,”
Elliott said.
“Got to experience that firsthand after the race there over the summer, which was just really cool to see and kind of feel that support. During the races you don’t always get to feel that when we’re running around out there, and it’s obviously really loud in the cars. You have that pre-race some but nothing like what it was post-race, and that for me was just really special and really cool. And then also to hear the stories after the race of my friends or whatever that happened to be at the event kind of tell me about it from their vantage point, and just how wild and crazy it was.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Strong Performance at EchoPark Speedway Boosts Elliott’s Confidence
Since the track’s conversion into a superspeedway, Chase Elliott has demonstrated exceptional consistency at EchoPark Speedway. According to NASCAR Insights, he holds the best average finish at this venue, with two wins and six top-10 finishes, averaging a finish position of 9.14, reflecting his skill in pack-style racing conditions.
Weekend Racing Schedule at EchoPark Speedway
This weekend’s events begin Saturday with a doubleheader featuring the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series sharing the day’s action. The Cup Series will headline the schedule on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, February 21
Fr8 Racing 208 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – 1:30 p.m.
Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – 5 p.m.
Sunday, February 22
Autotrader 400 – NASCAR Cup Series – 3 p.m.
Looking Ahead: What This Weekend Means for Elliott and EchoPark Speedway
As Chase Elliott aims to add another victory to his record at EchoPark Speedway, his performance this weekend will be closely watched by fans and competitors alike. Success here could solidify his standing early in the 2026 Cup Series season and maintain his momentum following a strong showing at Daytona. For the track, continuing to deliver thrilling superspeedway racing enhances its reputation as a premier Georgia motorsports venue, promising more exciting events and packed stands in the future.
