Epic finish in Atlanta caps NASCAR’s all-time classic at one of its most maligned tracks

HAMPTON, Ga. — The move was chilling. Dazzling. Austin Cindric went for it, four wide for the lead through the tri-oval into Turn 1. This would surely end in disaster.

But on Sunday night in this second race of the 2024 NASCAR season, to everyone’s surprise, the bold move actually worked, with Cindric shooting into the lead without incident.

“That was pretty cool, wasn’t it?” said Cindricus. “… It’s not easy to do, but I think that’s why they call us the best in the world.”

At this point, the much-maligned Atlanta Motor Speedway became the new favorite track for NASCAR fans. And it’s not like Cindric’s pass was the highlight. Things only got better from there, ending with a legitimate photo finish that saw Daniel Suárez beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch by 0.003 seconds, the third-largest margin of victory in Cup Series history.

Can you believe this finish!? 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/zKwqYNRQbG

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 26, 2024

“Holy s-! That was so close,” Blaney said of seeing a replay of the finish for the first time.

From start to finish, Atlanta offered a little bit of everything. Just what you want from a race at NASCAR’s highest level.

All 400 miles were intense racing, never a moment of boredom as the drivers barely held on – and sometimes lost control – on a track that honed their skills. Sometimes races on a drafting circuit give the appearance of drivers having it easy, giving the unfair impression that anyone could do this if given the right opportunity.

There was none of that Sunday night. Every lap was a grind, with the real potential of making a serious mistake, like when Denny Hamlin ran over the nose of Kyle Busch’s car or when Chris Buescher lost control exiting Turn 4 early in the race , or when Joey Logano drifted high on the exit of the turn. 2 by the end of phase 2.

Problems in the last lap of the stage! pic.twitter.com/FXNmRF1IZ2

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 25, 2024

This was NASCAR’s best performance all the way. And sometimes beyond.

“A little bit of a surprise party around every turn,” Martin Truex Jr. said. to Fox Sports’ Kevin Harvick during a red flag stoppage. “As crazy as it is, it was also kind of fun.”

Todd Gilliland, who led a race-high 58 laps, said: “It’s like going to a haunted house, you know? It’s fun, but at the same time I fear for my life.”

If anyone didn’t enjoy Sunday’s race, it might have been those behind the wheel. Drivers found themselves in the awkward position of competing on a track that combined elements of superspeedway racing – driving in a tight group with little escape when problems arise, and controlling the draft – with elements found on a traditional intermediate track would see. — tire wear, cars sliding around and navigating traffic.

Races on unchallenging tracks often lead to forgettable events, while the best races often take place on tracks that push drivers outside their comfort zone. Even though the drivers didn’t enjoy it on Sunday, the race was an instant classic, exactly the kind that fans will talk about for years to come.

And the majority of drivers seemed to embrace the moment and enjoy the flow of the race.

“It was a super cool race,” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who finished in sixth place. “I think the fans got their money’s worth.”

Even Kyle Larson, who crashed out of the race and has never been a fan of superspeedways, was complimentary.

“I actually had a lot of fun today,” he said. “It was super intense and it was a great race.”

Drivers speaking positively about Atlanta is quite a turnaround considering the vitriol directed at the track since it was converted from a traditional intermediate circuit to its current form in 2022. Many within NASCAR wondered why track owner Speedway Motorsports brought a bulldozer to a beloved track. oval in favor of a redesigned configuration that reduced their power.

To them it felt like sacrilege. This was not what NASCAR was supposed to represent. The animosity only deepened when it was announced last fall that Atlanta’s second date would shift to the playoffs, kicking off NASCAR’s championship round.

Drivers have almost come to hate Atlanta. Both for what it demanded of them and what it represented in the ever-changing balance between entertainment and sports, with the former seemingly deemed more important to NASCAR’s growth. No wonder then when The Athletics conducted an anonymous survey last week asking the people in the garage which race they were least looking forward to; Atlanta’s two races topped the poll.

One wonders how those surveyed would react now. Atlanta wouldn’t rank as the worst track after all. Heck, it might not even get one vote.

“I don’t know if you can get more out of a NASCAR race than we saw tonight,” said Justin Marks, Suárez’s team owner at Trackhouse Racing. “I was a complete race fan tonight. I just kept holding on every lap. Then you have the three-wide finish, and from entertainment value alone it was an incredible race.

“This is one of the most compelling races I think you could ask for as a sport.”

High praise, but also deserving. Because while Atlanta may have been loathed before Sunday, it is now the track that hosted one of the all-time races in NASCAR history.

GO DEEPER

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(Photo of the tight finish of Sunday’s race, with Daniel Suárez’s car trailing Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney: David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)