Story By: TAYLOR SMITH / TEAM PENSKE – HAMPTON, GA
Quaker State 400: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, Ga. – September 7, 2024
NASCAR TRACKS – ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – NASCAR 101
The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for its 10-week postseason, which is set to get underway this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the opening race in the Round of 16 of the NASCAR Playoffs. Drivers strapped in Saturday afternoon under warm temperatures for qualifying, setting the starting lineup for the 400-mile marathon. All three Team Penske drivers flexed the speed of their Ford Mustangs, advancing to the final round of qualifying to secure top-10 starting positions. This extends an impressive streak for the organization, as the three trio of drivers have qualified in the top 10 in each of the last three races at Atlanta, including a sweep of the top three spots in the 2023 spring race.
- Ryan Blaney, driver, No. 12 Dent Wizard Ford Mustang – 2nd
- Austin Cindric, driver, No. 2 Menards/Quaker State Ford Mustang – 5th
- Joey Logano, driver, No. 22 Autotrader Ford Mustang – 7th
HEAR FROM CINDRIC: “I think once again the Fords at speedways are really, really strong. I felt like our car handled extremely well in qualifying, which it’s not something you necessarily have to worry about here, but I think it just bodes well for us for the race tomorrow. I’m excited about it and feel like we can have a shot at the win.”
ATLANTA HISTORY: On November 14, 1993, Rusty Wallace secured Team Penske’s first win at Atlanta Motor Speedway after starting from 20th position in the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Wallace led a remarkable 189 laps en route to the win, which marked his 10th victory of the season. The organization now owns seven total wins at the 1.5-mile track, with both Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano each having a victory in that total. Austin Cindric has finished in the top 12 in his last four starts at Atlanta, including two top-five finishes.
TUNE IN ON SUNDAY: Coverage of Sunday’s 400-mile race at Atlanta Motor Speedway begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.