Hendrick Motorsports is readying its driver lineup and teams for the upcoming NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, bringing intense focus and determination after the recent Daytona event. As a key part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, the Hendrick Motorsports Atlanta Race promises high-stakes competition on one of the sport’s most challenging drafting tracks.
The team’s drivers—Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and rookie Corey Day—will take their Chevrolet cars to Atlanta with the goal of building on their early-season performances and capitalizing on improved speed and track strategy.
Strong Contenders and Experienced Drivers Leading the Charge
Kyle Larson, 33, the driver of the No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet from Elk Grove, California, comes into the Atlanta race with a determined mindset after finishing 16th at Daytona. Crew Chief Cliff Daniels and Larson have emphasized the importance of track position at this drafting circuit. Larson said,
“Our No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team has shown strong speed to start the season, which gives us confidence heading into another drafting track weekend. Track position will be even more critical, so one of our focuses is on putting together a solid qualifying effort to set ourselves up for Sunday. We’re excited to have Valvoline back on board our Chevrolet and look forward to making the most of the opportunity.”
Chase Elliott, 30, driving the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet and hailing from Dawsonville, Georgia, enters the race with a recent strong finish, placing 4th at Daytona. Having experienced victory and enthusiastic fan support at Atlanta during the summer, Elliott embraces the energy of competing at his home track. His crew chief is Alan Gustafson. Elliott shared,
“For me, it’s nice to stay close to home, number one, but number two, I think it’s the excitement and the energy. I got to experience that firsthand after the race there over the summer (after the win), which was just really cool to see and kind of feel that support. It’s a special place. It’s my home track. I think there’s been a lot of regenerated excitement for the speedway since the change. People have been telling me how much they enjoy going down there again, and that’s always cool too. So, all of that is fun. I’m glad there’s two races too. You get to experience it twice a year instead of once.”
William Byron, 28, from Charlotte, North Carolina, pilots the No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet and finished 12th last week. Crew Chief Rudy Fugle and Byron prepare to manage the challenges of back-to-back drafting races, emphasizing the key difference in Atlanta’s greater focus on handling. Byron commented,
“It’s tough having two drafting races back-to-back just for the element of the unknown. I do have confidence though in that we’ll show up with a good car and have a good shot again as long as we’re there in the end. The difference between Atlanta and Daytona though is that handling plays a bigger factor this weekend than it did last. Qualifying is the only lap you get to try get a feel for what you have. We have a pretty good notebook for there, so hopefully we unload close and can fine tune for Sunday.”
Alex Bowman, 32, from Tucson, Arizona, driving the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, experienced a difficult 40th-place finish at Daytona due to early misfortune but remains hopeful as his crew chief Blake Harris and team identify strong potential at Atlanta. Bowman said,
“Hendrick Motorsports had a strong showing last weekend (in the DAYTONA 500), which is really positive to see with the new Chevrolet body. Obviously, for our No. 48 Ally team, being in the wrong place at the wrong time ended our day early last weekend. With what we saw out of the car, we’re ready to get to Atlanta, another drafting track, and see what we can accomplish. We have shown speed there, had good runs in the past and we’ll look to continue building on that.”
Rookie Corey Day, just 20 years old and representing Clovis, California, will make his debut at Atlanta in the No. 17 Chevrolet, led by Crew Chief Adam Wall. After completing his first drafting track experience at Daytona, Day is eager to learn and advance in this competitive environment. He noted,
“Atlanta will be tough, it’s a track I’ve never been to so, it’s all new to me, but I’m ready for it. Daytona was my first drafting track and I learned a lot but have a lot more to learn. Our team has been putting in the work on building fast race cars and I’m excited to see what we can do at a new track.”
Hendrick Motorsports’ Legacy and Performance Records at Atlanta
Hendrick Motorsports holds a historic record at Atlanta Motor Speedway, marking 1,418 all-time races with 320 wins and 259 poles—both tied for most in the series. Their drivers have accumulated 1,323 top-five finishes and 2,261 top tens, further underscoring their dominance at this speedway. The team has led 85,376 laps and secured 3,763 stage wins, reinforcing their strong presence in NASCAR’s premier events.
Looking ahead, the combination of talented drivers, strategic crew leadership, and past success at Atlanta places Hendrick Motorsports in a favorable position to compete for victory as the 2026 season unfolds.
Anticipated Impact and Challenges for the Atlanta Race
With drafting tracks demanding sharp strategy and precision, the Hendrick Motorsports drivers understand that qualifying laps will be crucial in setting the tone for race day. The frequent changes in track conditions and close racing increase the unpredictability, requiring quick adjustments and teamwork. Given the team’s collective experience and renewed enthusiasm, particularly at Chase Elliott’s home track, the Atlanta race represents a pivotal opportunity to strengthen their standings early in the season.
Success at Atlanta could not only amplify the momentum for Hendrick Motorsports but also reinforce driver confidence as the series moves forward. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Larson, Elliott, Byron, Bowman, and newcomer Day navigate the unique challenges Atlanta presents, and how the team adapts their race-day strategies to the evolving competition.
