How To Watch NASCAR This Week:

Friday, February 21

NCTS Qualifying (FS1 at 3 p.m. ET)

NXS Qualifying (CW App at 5 p.m. ET)

Saturday, February 22

NCS Qualifying (Amazon Prime at 11 a.m. ET)

NCTS Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM at 1:30 p.m. ET)

NXS Race (The CW, PRN, SiriusXM at 5 p.m. ET)

Sunday, February 23

NCS Race (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM at 3 p.m. ET)

Significant Events at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

1958 – The Atlanta Constitution reported on April 8, 1958, that the First Georgia Securities Corporation, under the leadership of President Richard W. King, had unveiled plans to construct a $1 million racing complex known as Atlanta International Raceway.

•         1959 – A NASCAR-sanctioned race at Atlanta International Raceway, initially planned for November 22, 1959, was postponed due to construction delays and rescheduled for March 27, 1960.

•         September 17, 1959 – The groundbreaking ceremony for Atlanta International Raceway occurred.

•         June 1960 – The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, initially scheduled for late 1959, was held in June 1960 due to construction delays caused by bad weather.

•         1962 – First Movie Production – Atlanta Motor Speedway was first used for movie production in the 1962 film Thundering Wheels, featuring driver Jack Smith.

•         1965 – In 1965, track owner Bruce Weaver revealed plans for a $500,000 dragstrip to be added at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

•         1968 – In December 1968, Atlanta International Raceway merged with Michigan International Speedway, owned by Lawrence LoPatin. The merger included a $1 million investment for renovations, including a repaving, new dragstrip, expanded seating, and amenity upgrades.

•         1976 – After five years of bankruptcy proceedings, Atlanta International Raceway was officially turned over to a five-man board of directors on March 10, 1976. The move marked the end of a turbulent period for the speedway, with Jim Baker, Walter Nix, and L.G. DeWitt assuming majority ownership.

•         1980 – Atlanta Motor Speedway was featured in the film Smokey and the Bandit II in 1980.

•         1982 – Atlanta Motor Speedway was featured in the film Six Pack, directed by Daniel Petrie.

•         1983 – Atlanta Motor Speedway was used in the 1983 Hal Needham-directed film Stroker Ace.

•         1986 – In January 1986, Mike Helton announced $3 million in renovations ahead of the 1986 The Winston event. These improvements were part of efforts to enhance the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s facilities.

•         1990 – Motorsports mogul Bruton Smith (Speedway Motorsports) purchased the Atlanta International Raceway in 1990, renaming it to Atlanta Motor Speedway and leading the facility’s expansion and renovation under longtime general manager Ed Clark.

•         1992 – In September 1992, the newly constructed 2.5-mile road course at Atlanta Motor Speedway held its first races. This course included both the oval and specialized infield portions.

•         1993 – In 1993, Ed Clark announced a three-year plan to expand Atlanta Motor Speedway’s capacity to 180,000. This plan included the construction of Tara Place, a new condominium complex.

•         1997 – Atlanta Motor Speedway underwent a reconfiguration and repave in 1997. Developers added a 1⁄4 mile oval to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s front stretch in 1997 to accommodate legends car racing.

•         2005 – In July 2005, an F2 tornado caused by Hurricane Cindy hit Atlanta Motor Speedway, causing an estimated $40 million in damage to its grandstands, condominium complex, and other amenities.

•         2017 – Atlanta Motor Speedway served as an evacuee center during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

•         2017 – In 2017, the film Logan Lucky used Atlanta Motor Speedway as a stand-in for Charlotte Motor Speedway.

•         2018 – In 2018, Atlanta Motor Speedway provided shelter for evacuees during Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

•         2021 – On July 6, 2021, a repave and subsequent reconfiguration of Atlanta Motor Speedway were officially announced. The changes included increasing banking in the turns and narrowing the racing surface.

•         In 2021, the Atlanta Marathon was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway due to COVID-19 restrictions, and America’s Got Talent: Extreme filmed its first season at the facility.

•         2022-2023 – Atlanta Motor Speedway again served as an evacuee center, this time during Hurricane Ian and Idalia.