The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Atlanta after a controversial decision in Chicago has teams feeling frustrated
NASCAR’s debut on the streets of Chicago was disrupted by torrential rain all weekend long. It disrupted the NASCAR Xfinity Series race so much that it had to be called off after 25 of 55 laps. The usual rule is that a race is considered official after halfway or the end of stage two. NASCAR made the decision to call the race due to the unrelenting rain and tight schedule with the track. For an otherwise positive weekend in Chicago, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, including winner Cole Custer, were frustrated to not finish their race.
The Track
The previous race in Atlanta for the NASCAR Xfinity Series was not a clean race. Twelve cautions throughout led to no green flag pit stops and no opportunities to try the new pit road entry. Some had concerns about the amount of time it would take to drive around turns three and four on the apron at pit road speed. This time around NASCAR has revised the entry allowing cars to go slightly faster around the corner. Drivers will get a practice session dedicated to entering pit road following qualifying.
NASCAR will have drivers enter pit road at Atlanta in Turn 3 just like in March but one big difference — if enter under green, speed limit is 90mph until you get to former entry spot past Turn 4, where it is then 45mph. If enter under yellow, 45mph entire way.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 6, 2023
The rest of the track has stayed basically the same since it was repaved in 2021. Superspeedway-style racing will be on the cards this weekend. Teams will have to pay attention to the handling of their car and not go all out for speed though. Temperatures in the 90s will make the track slicker than the last time the NASCAR Xfinity Series raced here in March. This could spread the field out and hopefully lessen the number of caution flags.
Prediction
Austin Hill started this NASCAR Xfinity Series season by winning three of the first five races. In the eleven races since he has yet to return to victory lane. This hasn’t been the dominating season Hill hoped for in terms of wins as of late but he has been in a very good run of form. In the last seven races he has only finished outside of the top five once and that was still an eighth-place finish. I’m following this momentum and picking Austin Hill to return to victory lane in Atlanta.
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