Aric Almirola Wins Atlanta Pole with New Mustang, New Rules Package

HAMPTON, GA – FEBRUARY 22: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, poses for a photo after winning the pole award during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Clint Bowyer was on the doorstep of securing his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole position since 2007, but teammate Aric Almirola and fellow Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had the last say.

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Stenhouse Shrugs Off Criticism—with Other Drivers’ Support

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HAMPTON, Ga. – In a Daytona 500 that racked up late-race cautions—Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took a lambasting on social media for his part in a lap 195 multicar wreck that collected Kevin Harvick’s Ford and a half-dozen other cars.

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Kevin Harvick Not Leaning on Past Experience at Atlanta

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Kevin Harvick arrived at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with a bullseye on his back. Last year he won both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race and the Xfinity race the day before.

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NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Preview

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The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will race the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 2 pm ET. Television coverage on FOX starts at 1:30 pm ET with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Distance: 500.5 miles (325 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 85),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 170), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 3250)

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Michael Annett’s Watershed Moment Came Long Before First Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 16: Michael Annett, driver of the #1 Pilot Flying J/American Heart Association Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

HAMPTON, Ga. – To Michael Annett, the criticism was justified.

He was the anchor on the JR Motorsports roster, and not in a positive sense. While a succession of teammates won races and contended for championships, Annett was winless in two full seasons with the team, posting just one top-five finish (a second at Road America) in 66 starts.

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