William Byron wins his fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Quaker State 400 on Sunday.
The NASCAR Cup Series took a trip down south for its second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Cup Series is starting to figure out this new configuration in its fourth time racing on the new layout. After Atlanta increased the banking in the corners, the track runs like a superspeedway. With the track at a mile shorter than Daytona and Talladega, the in-race decision-making is much tougher.
Pole Sitter, Aric Almirola Leads the Field
Aric Almirola held down the lead coming to the green flag. Despite many drivers making a run for the lead, Almirola was able to hold steady for 17 laps. Then, Harrison Burton spun around bringing out the first caution.
Aric Almirola and Joey Logano battled back and forth for the lead for nearly 25 laps. Joey Logano was able to securely grab the lead, but then he had to battle with Ryan Blaney.
It was a heavy battle for the lead coming to the end of the first segment. Ryan Blaney moved past Joey Logano with three laps remaining. Then Kyle Larson made a valiant effort to win the stage.
Coming to the checkered flag Ryan Blaney beat Kyle Larson by the nose of his car to win the first stage of the Quaker State 400.
Several Leaders in the Second Stage
Kyle Larson came into the second segment wanting to lead some laps. He jumped out front and took over in the early part of the second stage. William Byron had a minor spin on lap 80 with the caution flag flying once again.
Bubba Wallace opted not to pit and led the field to the restart. The race was not under the green flag for long as Kyle Larson spun around in 14th place collecting Chase Briscoe and Austin Hill. The wrecking continued.
With Chris Buescher leading the race, Noah Gragson and Corey LaJoie wrecked each other which also gathered up five other drivers. With rain on the way, the fight was on to make it to the end of the stage.
Chris Buescher could not hold off Austin Cindric. As Cindric moved into the lead, he had a hard time holding off Brad Keselowski. With two laps remaining in the race. Alex Bowman spun around and collected Denny Hamlin. This caution ended the second stage, deeming Brad Keselowski the winner.
William Byron Wins his Fourth Race of the Season in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta
It was a matter of time until the skies opened. William Byron played his strategy and decided not to pit and gain track position. The move paid off as he soared into the lead two laps into the final stage.
The race continued to run green for another ten laps. On lap 178, Bubba Wallace and Cole Custer spun around running inside the top ten. It was at this moment the rain started to fall. NASCAR lost the track and with William Byron as the leader, he was declared the winner of the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Quaker State 400 Results
The NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings
Sunday’s race was a race against the weather, and these races can be the most exciting. The field has limited time to gain track position before the weather comes. Once that race hits halfway, the race could be called, and the results are final. That is when we see different strategies under race cautions. During the second stage break, William Byron was one of the drivers that stayed out, and he was rewarded for it. It is a risky gamble assuming it does not end up raining, but it is a risk worth taking. William Byron and his team took the risk, and his team was in victory lane Sunday night for the fourth time this year.