|| *Comments on Atlanta Motor Speedway:* View the most recent comment <#55> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Eric posted: 02.20.2010 - 2:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Has some the closest finishes in Nascar History at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was reconfigured in 1997 and Geoff Bodine has the fastest Qualifying speed at the track. Atlanta had the Final race of the year for many years after Riverside lost its date. Dale Earnhardt has the most wins at this track. Despite it's great racing tradition, Atlanta has problems selling out booth dates in a year for a long time. It is one of the tracks that the SMI is considering taking a race date from for Kentucky Motor Speedway. 2. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 02.27.2010 - 10:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great Track with history, close finishes, and good racing. Since 2005 has struggled to get a good crowd but when they moved their second race from October to labour they they got over a 110,000 near sellout crowd. Obviously track is a victom of NASCAR's hatred towards SMI tracks. 3. Eric posted: 03.01.2010 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Deaths at Atlanta Motorspeedway: Grant Adcox, Chad Coleman,Terry Schoonover 4. martin-n-rusty posted: 03.02.2010 - 12:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Eric, one of the things to be considered why Atlanta has some attendance issues is that Atlanta as a whole just does not seem to be the greatest sports town. Look at the Atlanta Braves. They have trouble selling out playoff games. Granted, the Atlanta Hawks ownership was incompetent at best, but even with them being a good team now, they can't draw very well. The Atlanta Falcons had attendance issues until Mike Vick came to town, then when Matt Ryan became a god to them. The Atlanta Flames, and now Atlanta Thrashers have had trouble getting people to come to games, even for a non-traditional hockey market. Atlanta just does not seem like a great sports town. 5. Cfob posted: 03.04.2010 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I see this track losing a date so SMI can get a race at Kentucky for 2011. 6. Undertaker0024 posted: 03.08.2010 - 12:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Part of the reason Atlanta isn't a great sports town is because majority of the people here are not from here. Alot of people here are from other major cities like New York, Miami, etc., and move here mostly for job opportunities. But their hearts remain in their hometown, so the sport scene here is viewed more as a social event to go to when the club scene gets dull. Being a native, I wish there was more support for the sport scene, especially for the track. I would hate to see us lose one of our dates because the races here are among the best each year. Despite being a cookie cutter, the worn down asphalt makes ensures that only the best drivers are out front running for the win. 7. Cooper posted: 03.14.2010 - 3:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. 8. RACER101 posted: 04.18.2010 - 4:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Its not a cookie cutter for the last time! 9. LongTallJones posted: 06.09.2010 - 10:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) A majority of why they lack on attendance has to do with the old start-finish line area, which is now the backstrech. They got rid of the grandstands, which lowers the attendance a ton. 10. RLewis9 posted: 07.05.2010 - 2:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The word is, Atlanta will lose a date. Which is really sad. 11. Eric posted: 01.12.2011 - 6:45 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) LongTallJones, That has nothing to do with why Atlanta lost date. Atlanta lost a date because they wasn't able to fill the seats they currently have. 12. RACE34 posted: 06.18.2011 - 2:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (3) The only reason people care the most about this 1.5 mile track and whine about the rest is because it's in the south! People I guess think NASCAR just needs to be in the south! 13. Anonymous posted: 07.31.2011 - 12:38 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) RACE34, Did it occur to you race fans love this 1.5 mile track because is known for great races and great finishes, not because it is located in the south. You are very clueless. 14. RACE34 posted: 07.31.2011 - 3:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (2) I don't get why people have to be so harsh on this website I have my own opinion and you have your own opinion I think what I think not because I am clueless! 15. Anonymous posted: 06.30.2013 - 6:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Atlanta was a 1.5 mile track through the end of 1969. 16. RaceFanX posted: 09.03.2014 - 7:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) After a previous post mentioned the Atlanta Thrashers NHL team's attendance issues it might not be much of a surprise they packed it in and moved to Winnipeg as the new version of the Jets. 17. edwards19 posted: 02.27.2015 - 12:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 12: If that was true, why are Charlotte and Texas among the most universally loathed tracks around here... 18. Big Mac Fan posted: 10.18.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wouldn't say Texas is in the South, it's kind of it's own animal, I know this since I live there. The eastern parts resemble the South, the large metro areas like DFW, Houston, and San Antonio are like any other metropolis in the country, and west of Fort Worth is the western US. Anyways, there is a reason Atlanta is the most liked 1.5 mile track, not because it's in Georgia. It always has exciting races, it's harder to drive, and it arguably has the greatest NASCAR race of all time, the 1992 Hooters 500. I personally think the old configuration of true oval was better, but the current design is still good. Just hope the track holds on to one race each year. 19. Anonymous posted: 11.18.2015 - 8:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Will be repaved next year by Lane Construction. 20. RaceFanX posted: 04.23.2016 - 11:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Atlanta is a roval with an infield road course layout. IMSA GT raced on the roval course in 1993, a one-off replacement for its usual Road Atlanta round, and while there haven't been many other major races on the road course it was mostly retained when Atlanta was rebuilt in 1997. 21. rw posted: 09.09.2016 - 2:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I still wish the ARCA cars raced here :/ 22. Canadianfan posted: 01.03.2017 - 1:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Will be repaved after March race. 23. JRacingFast posted: 01.03.2017 - 1:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bad news The track is gonna get repaved after the March race here 24. Tide1732 posted: 01.03.2017 - 1:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Will back to Old Atlanta format? Remember the Scariest Atlanta race ever? 25. Eric posted: 01.03.2017 - 2:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @24, They are only doing a repaving of the track. I didn't read anything about a reconfiguration of the track. 26. joey2448 posted: 01.03.2017 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) As much as we all want to see Atlanta stay the same, it's pretty much a necessity for it to be repaved. When tracks become this old (20 years) the safety of the surface becomes an issue, as bumps and cracks in the track could lead to problems when cars race over them at 160+ mph. It's unfortunate because old, worn-out pavement tends to lead to tire wear, which produces varying speeds of the cars over a long run and therefore passing. 27. JSPorts posted: 01.03.2017 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, I love the racing there, but I suppose it's time. I certainly look forward to 1 more great race this spring. 28. Eric posted: 01.03.2017 - 6:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The speeds are going increase when repaving is completed. I feel Atlanta will be the fastest track on the circuit again. The tapered spacer would be preventing qualifying speeds around 207 to 210 mile per hour when the repaving happens. 29. chevyfan98 posted: 01.03.2017 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It was only a matter of time I guess. 30. Anthony posted: 01.03.2017 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The hardest tyre in the history of racing will be used on the new pavement. Run 500 miles on one set and no fall off. 31. 1995 Subaru WRX Sti posted: 01.04.2017 - 12:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They were bound too re-pave the track. Tracks now a days have technology that can see under the racing surface and see if potential problems can arise. They are not doing it just too do it. 32. BMan0213 posted: 03.05.2017 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Apparently Marcus Smith said today that they are reconsidering repaving the track. I just hope it's because they're listening to what the drivers are saying and not that they're considering moving Atlanta's date to Las Vegas. After all it wouldn't make sense to repave a track they're not going to use. 33. Eric posted: 03.05.2017 - 1:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @32, Its not possible Las Vegas using Atlanta's date unless SMI is going to do a major shake up on their tracks so vegas could have two dates. The truth is Las Vegas doesn't have a chase date and Charlotte, Texas and New Hampshire does. The shaked up is basically doing a of tracks moving their dates and there is what I referring to. 1.) Race number 2 in 2018 goes to Las Vegas instead of Atlanta. 2.) Race number 3 in 2018 goes to Texas. 3.) Race number 7 in 2018 goes Bristol 4.) Race Number 8 in 2018 goes to New Hampshire. This is possible since I remembered New Hampshire Xfinity races in Early May back in the early 2000's. 5.) Race number 16 wouldn't have a track date change with Sonoma keeping its date in 2018. 6.) Race number 18 wouldn't have a track date in 2018 with Kentucky keeping its date. 7.) Race number 19 would be New Hampshire again, but it would be its 2nd date instead. 8.) Bristol Night Race date stays. 9.) Race number 28 in 2018 would be a wild card with Charlotte, Texas, or Vegas takes New Hampshires old chase date. 10.) Race number 30 in 2018 would depend on what happens on race number 28's track date. 11.) Race Number 34 still could be Texas, but it also could Las Vegas. 34. BMan0213 posted: 03.05.2017 - 2:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @33 Just because Atlanta doesn't doesn't have a chase date doesn't mean Vegas couldn't take it away. In fact there is a very simple change in the schedule that would make sense if it happened. Vegas takes Atlanta's date and then is switched with Homestead. Yes I know those tracks are owned by different companies but Vegas has been rumored to take over the last race of the year for years now. I feel If Atlanta losses it's date there is a real possibility that this could happen. 35. Incognito posted: 03.05.2017 - 2:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Very unlikely that naISCar takes the championship race away from one of their own tracks. 36. BMan0213 posted: 03.05.2017 - 2:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @35 While NASCAR has a say it's not 100% up to them. It sounds like Monster is playing a role in this. From what I've heard they either want Vegas as the last race of the year because it makes hosting the Banquet easier since they're already out there, or they want it paired up with Supercross race that is held in Vegas in the fall. IMO pairing it up with the Supercross race would make the most sense but with how much SMI has said they want Vegas to be the last race of the year in the past it could very well be an option. 37. chevyfan98 posted: 03.28.2017 - 11:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great news: they are not going to repave Atlanta! 38. Anonymous posted: 03.28.2017 - 11:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Great news: they are not going to repave Atlanta!" Yet. It just won't be repaved in 2017. 39. Anonymous posted: 03.28.2017 - 1:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) They're going to have to at some point, going to get too old eventually 40. kup posted: 11.22.2017 - 11:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR CUP Atlanta Motor Speedway 1960-2017 # races: 110 UPS: universal points system. Driver's UPoints = Miles / Aver.Finish 2 220 Dale Earnhardt 21 091 / 9.5 1 896 Richard Petty 26 545 / 14.0 1 603 Cale Yarborough 19 559 / 12.2 1 535 Jeff Gordon 19 340 / 12.6 1 489 Terry Labonte 24 278 / 16.3 1 486 Ricky Rudd 26 161 / 17.6 1 432 Bill Elliott 26 636 / 18.6 1 344 Bobby Allison 19 225 / 14.3 1 340 Mark Martin 23 180 / 17.3 1 283 Darrell Waltrip 22 580 / 17.6 1 250 Dale Jarrett 18 621 / 14.9 1 250 Buddy Baker 20 124 / 16.1 1 225 Rusty Wallace 21 197 / 17.3 1 221 Dale Earnhardt Jr 14 890 / 12.2 1 186 Sterling Marlin 20 872 / 17.6 1 171 Matt Kenseth 13 929 / 11.9 1 163 Jimmie Johnson 12 796 / 11.0 1 054 Kyle Petty 23 400 / 22.2 1 043 Benny Parsons 15 227 / 14.6 1 019 Dave Marcis 22 615 / 22.2 999 Tony Stewart 13 383 / 13.4 997 Jeff Burton 16 946 / 17.0 922 David Pearson 14 295 / 15.5 919 Bobby Labonte 16 914 / 18.4 916 Michael Waltrip 20 150 / 22.0 889 Morgan Shepherd 14 142 / 15.9 889 Ken Schrader 20 258 / 22.8 852 Buddy Arrington 14 566 / 17.1 822 Ernie Irvan 9 697 / 11.8 775 Donnie Allison 10 697 / 13.8 769 Kurt Busch 11 990 / 15.6 763 Kevin Harvick 13 193 / 17.3 740 Harry Gant 13 460 / 18.2 41. Anonymous posted: 02.20.2018 - 7:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick has led the most laps in the last four races at Atlanta, and five of the last six, but hasn't won at this track since his door to door thriller with Gordon in his rookie season. 42. Yeet posted: 03.13.2020 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Apologies if this has already been mentioned on this website: Atlanta Motor Speedway has announced a deal for all those who purchased a ticket to any of the March 13-15 events. - choose to receive an event credit to another SMI race for the full amount paid plus additional 20% - receive a full refund. SMI tracks include Las Vegas, Bristol, Kentucky, Sonoma, Charlotte, Texas, and New Hampshire. 43. JSPorts posted: 04.20.2020 - 12:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Top 10 drivers since 2017: 1st: Kevin Harvick 2nd: Brad Keselowski 3rd: Martin Truex, Jr. 4th: Kyle Larson 5th: Kurt Busch 6th: Clint Bowyer 7th: Joey Logano 8th: Kyle Busch 9th: Chase Elliott 10th: Erik Jones 44. RaceFanX posted: 07.24.2020 - 10:11 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) With Georgia's recent history of film production it's no surprise a number of movies have been filmed here at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Great American Truck Racing scene at the start of "Smokey and the Bandit Part II," the climatic NASCAR scene at the end of Kenny Rogers' "Six Pack," and more NASCAR racing scenes for Burt Reynolds' "Stroker Ace" were all filmed here on the original layout. After the track was reconfigured in 1997 it was used for filming of the 2017 movie "Logan Lucky," doubling for the Charlotte Motor Speedway where the story is set, the chariot parade scene in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," and the pilot episode of the web television series "Doom Patrol." The RV crash scene for "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" was also oddly filmed just outside the track for some reason, the movie takes place in 1970s New York City but was filmed in Atlanta. 45. Corey posted: 07.24.2020 - 11:02 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @44 Looks like ?The Hunger Games? just used the parking lot behind Turn 1. I imagine they chose AMS, due to its space and availability for a decent length of rime. Those were big outdoor sets they used. 46. RaceFanX posted: 07.24.2020 - 12:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They put up Green Screens and CGIed a lot of it too. When Atlanta doubled for Charlotte in "Logan Lucky" the film crew actually did have the walls repainted yellow to match the North Carolina track though. I think most of the race track stuff was actually filmed here although some scenes were shot during the real 2016 Coca-Cola 600. 47. Anon posted: 09.28.2020 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rumored to have 2 races next season,due to the massive casino/resort and amusement park being built alongside turns 3 and 4 of the track. 48. Canadianfan posted: 09.30.2020 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: Marcus Smith says the repave, when it happens, at Atlanta needs to be something spectacular so two dates would make that more worthwhile ... he wouldn't say anything more than that as far as reconfiguration. 49. TheDewCrew posted: 10.02.2020 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To be repaved for the first time since 1997, to prepare for the 2nd date. I've never seen an Atlanta race on pavement other than the current package. This is going to be fun 50. Jimmie4life posted: 10.02.2020 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Speeds will go up, but not much else. If we didn't use this high downforce package and instead went to a 725 or an 850 HP package, lap speeds could be well over 201+ MPH, considering they did 197 in 1997, and cars have gotten even better in terms of aerodynamics. 51. CanterburySoup1983 posted: 10.02.2020 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And Geoff Bodine's 23 year old track record of 197.478 mph is likely go bye bye 52. Canadianfan posted: 10.02.2020 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @49 Reconfiguration is a strong possibility too. 53. possum posted: 10.02.2020 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @49 - last time they repaved it racing sucked for several years - single file, no passing. Fun for whoever was leading, not so much for everyone else. Of course, as Canadianfan mentioned, they could perhaps change the track layout somehow to avoid that. 54. Canadianfan posted: 10.02.2020 - 9:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Excerpts from Nate Ryan article: ?We also think that Atlanta Motor Speedway is a fantastic racetrack, and the drivers and fans have always given it high reviews. So we are optimistic about NASCAR at Atlanta and the Atlanta market. Then, of course, we also are going to be doing a repave of Atlanta coming up soon. So having two races there is something we feel like is the right move for us as a company, and I think that we're optimistic and pretty excited about what the repave and reprofile is going to be like in Atlanta. And I think fans will enjoy seeing NASCAR there twice a year.? Smith said Atlanta ?probably still will be a mile and a half,? but is hinting that an upcoming repave also would include the ?reprofiling? of its layout after vetting some proposed changes with iRacing. ?We're definitely going to make some pretty cool improvements,? Smith said. ?We're going to be making an announcement about that. We have our ideas together, and now we're doing some testing of those ideas working with iRacing on modeling and that sort of thing. When we're done and ready to tell the story properly, I think people will be really excited about it.? 55. Tarheel posted: 01.27.2021 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I really hope they hold off on repaving Atlanta. They are scheduled to race 400 miles on a Sunday afternoon in the dead of summer, which hasn't been done since 1974. If it gets hot and the track surface is eating tires, it should be a good show. It would be even better with 750 hp, but that simply isn't going to happen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: