I don't know how great it really can be; a hybrid between last years 550 hp intermediate racing and a superspeedway. People were tired of the 550 package, so I don't see a big push by the fans to build more. I don't think Nascar would be that clueless to think they need to build more. At best, I think it will be a throwback race to the Gen 6 era of racing that happens once or twice a year.
I've been saying this from the beginning, some don't want another superspeedway, and would rather see old tracks, get renovations to be up in standards, and see Nascar go back to their roots
Man, you dont like Superspeedway, 1,5 mile, road course. You only like short track and old track. If WE stop at this track its because they have a reason. If you like short track watch late model no more to say stop hate everything NASCAR made new you only like old things
@@meddivilledieu1363 bc those are boring races with little skill. My 1 year son can drive on a highway if he wanted to. Small tracks make it more technical with brake and throttle control.
Eric, I hope you're wrong. I'm kind of psyched to see the racing on the new track configuration at Atlanta. I hear your fears but have my fingers crossed it'll be great racing this weekend across all 3 series.
I don't want to harp on the NASCAR community too much, because I consider myself to be part of it, but man we complain too much with zero evidence of whatever we are whining about. I don't think we should judge Atlanta before we see any action, ESPECIALLY when there is conflicting driver reports with some drivers saying it's just a baby Daytona and others saying that its superspeedway racing but on a knife edge of grip. Believe me, I understand the importance of healthy speculation, but everyone writing off this race as garbage before the cars even touch the track is not good for the sport. Do you think people from the outside looking in are going to watch the race if they see everyone in the community complaining about this race and immediately writing it off? Healthy skepticism people, use it instead of constant negativity.
I wish more fans were like you. Don't knock it until you try it, don't criticize unless you have a better idea. Thank you for the positive thinking, we need more of this
I really hate to say this but it goes back to the old saying of "if it isn't broke Don't fix it" . Granted a lot of the tracks could use resurfacing but to totally reconfigure a track without the Drivers input on it is just asking for trouble. Nascar has made some major changes of late that haven't went the way they intended them to go. I try to keep an open mind but after being a lifetime fan with going to the races in person this might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. How many Great tracks are now sitting vacant? WAY to many of them unfortunately and have heard rumors of trying to revive some of them now. 🙄
I really hope the new Atlanta will not be a mistake cause I'm a diehard Superspeedway fan of both Daytona and Talladega and I'm praying that this race will be really good
Not looking forward to 510 HP on a 1.5 mile track. I guess we'll see what happens. It probably would be better with the normal HP package and no bogus double yellow line rule that has arguably caused more dangerous wrecks than it has prevented.
Atlanta use to be a true oval back in the day and it was fast! They changed to configuration to accommodate more fans in the front stretch. Never liked that configuration that Texas and Charlotte have. The difference now is that they would run the cars with the regular package, not a super speedway package. I remember that it always seemed it was either Earnhardt Sr or Bobby Labonte winning there...
To a point this reminds me of my job. They keep making changes based on computers without any input from the actual employees. I really wish they'd consider driver's opinions
If NASCAR did not put super speed way package and the plate. I think fans and drivers would love the track its basically what if homestead and Darlington had a baby
Six Superspeedways and only three true paved short tracks. It just doesn't seem right. And if you look at the future, it doesn't look like there's any plans to put another short track on the Cup schedule. A damn shame
I think a large portion of why drivers don’t like super speedway racing is because those races are truly for any driver to win, and it takes driver skill out of the running at least by a lot. Sure, it’s also more dangerous with high speeds and the close proximity to other drivers, but drivers like tracks that they feel like they can dominate or use their abilities to their advantage as opposed to a largely luck based super speedway racing
Im staying open minded. This weekend will for sure be interesting and a new experience and I am hoping the new track config holds up to the hype its getting. Who knows maybe it will be a dope race!
You can’t even drive the new configuration in iRacing yet, but they used it to create and test with…. It’s gonna be interesting for sure. Hopefully it’s a clean race.
When they were developing COT they said the same thing. They said the big spoilers and wings would turn every single 1.5 mile and bigger track into basically a plate race.
Texas needs to be a short track or a configuration to like a high banked Miami. These quad ovals are kinda running there course on me. “Old old Atlanta” was badass.
@@Northgacatfish yea indy is a good track. I always liked the races there. I always wondered how good the racing would be if a track like indy had more banking.
I wish they would have put the track the way it use to be in the old day. Two long straightaways with two big sweeping corners. For years and years there was fantastic racing there until they tried to make it another Charlotte
Normally I look at a positive side to everything about the sport. But I've got to be honest, ever since they first announced this reconfig to Atlanta, I have been very apprehensive about it. I hope it's a success, I hope that I am proven wrong. But I just don't see how turning an intermediate into a quasi super speedway is going to be conducive to better racing. And with the double yellow line rule, it's just going to open up the race for controversial situations. As we know NASCAR's inconsistencies with that rule when it comes to making calls on it. I actually hate that rule at Daytona and Talladega. But that's a different conversation. But hopefully it's a competitive safe race with a lot of good racing action, and we continue this trend of good racing that the Gen 7 cars have been giving us this year.
@@mitchellswenning6058 You just don't get it do you, IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. How many times over the past five or ten years have they made major changes and lost viewers, people coming to the track in person, yes it needed repaving but to totally reconfigure it might have been the last straw for many people. I've been a lifelong race fan and used to go to the tracks every year. When they started jacking up the ticket prices I quit going. Some changes were supposed to be for safety and I get that but some have just been plain ignorant and everyone knows it. We will soon see if this was a win or a total flop pretty quick.
I don’t know why you’re arguing with because everything you said there I agree with? Someone had said they think Atlanta will get 2 dates, and I said Atlanta already has 2 dates, but I agree with everything you said and have a post saying a lot of the same things.
I was hoping to see how it was going to work out today but rain changed all that. I'll give it a chance. If the race is horrible, they can move the second race to a different track. There are plenty of ovals and permeant road courses out there. Sometime change for change's sake is a bad idea like the street course in Chicago.
I'm very curious how the new drainage system at Atlanta is working. Obviously, they can't run if it continues to rain, but I'm interested to see how well it's draining.
I am as well, I feel like someone dropped the ball on reporting this, this is a huge step forward to avoid big rain delays that we all need, and we're just barely hearing about it now, and it's like a page 5 corner of the page story
@@palmtree82 Another aspect that will be intersting to watch long term is how it handles rubber. If water can flow through the top, hot rubber can be pushed through it too, right? Also, in order to stay porous for water to flow through, the asphalt can't be as tightly packed as it would normally be. Will it come apart from the forces 70+ cars are going to put on it this weekend? This new track with a new car and now a whole day rained out makes for too many unknowns for me.
I honestly thought short tracks were .5miles+, MILES were 1.0mile, Intermediates wre1.3mile to 1.5miles and superspeedways were 2mile upwards?.... I know they will be "pack" racing but it's still a Intermediate track is it not? Much love from Fife, Scotland!. Love this channel!
I think my biggest fear from new Atlanta is the safety of the drivers. Superspeedways are the most dangerous tracks on the schedule so I just hope the track is ready for them to race and probably crash hard
If F1 and Indy can crash open wheel, open cockpit cars 30mph faster than nascar then stock car drivers with roll cages and crumple zones will be fine. Every wall is now safer barrier too
NASCAR flipped on the 550 package because the car wasn't fast enough to get all the aero bits working effectively and thus lacked grip. They didn't just change their mind on a whim..... Let's be grateful the car works better the way it does. It gave us better racing even though NASCAR tried to fumble the ball really hard.
The problem with Atlanta’s Motor Speedway is not the track considering it did need to be replaced. The track is no where in sight of Atlanta’s which is why the fan showing is poor.
I remember Dale JR said when this was announced that he drove it on iRacing and couldn’t tell a difference between old and new, so that has me worried that this is just gonna be slow, spread out, and boring.
I have no problem with SMI changing things up. If we're going to still have a bunch of mile and a half tracks might as well differenciate them from each other. We won't really know if it was a good change for a few years.
Yeah, I also don't think that Atlanta will be as "Superspeedway like" as many fear. I think it will have it's similarities to Daytona and Talladega in it's speed and driving style but the track is still short enough where runs won't be like the pack racing we are used to seeing. I think there will be some drafting and high speeds here, but mechanical grip will still have a heavy amount of importance. I am worried about this track because it ow in my top 5 favorites, but at the same time I am excited to see this hybrid type of mile and a half/superspeedway track. We have more short tracks on the schedule, cool.... We have many mile and a halfs, alright.... We also have two superspeedways, radical... But this... This is pretty new without looking all that new. I'm very interested in how this all turns out. But I will say this. Those spoilers still gotta go. I get it at Daytona and Talladega but even there I would still want to chop them down at least an inch or two and that thought is something I have for Atlanta aswell. I guess we shall see.
I really hope the race turns out well, this will be my first NASCAR race I've been to in 13+ years (last time was the 2008 Pep Boys Auto 500 at AMS as well). Hoping that the racing will at least be somewhat of what they promised it to be haha, a pack of cars flying by at 180+ mph is always a nice sight to behold
After the truck and xfinity race, I gotta say as much as I hated the new choice to reconfigure Atlanta to a “superspeedway” I kinda like it. It doesn’t seem as chaotic as it could’ve been as long as the cup drivers don’t make boneheaded decisions(which I guess is a big if). I’m gonna put it up to the rest of time if I like it over the regular intermediate track, but so far so good
It didn’t change much how the trucks ran there previously. Reducing the HP for the cup cars is ridiculous and defeats the purpose of differentiating them from the lower series
I don't think anybody knows what to expect including the drivers....but if other fans feel like I do there will be a lot of eyes on this to see how the racing pans out
My thoughts here are that NASCAR knew that a repave, as necessary as it was, was going to kill this track for a few years. So they just went with, "eff it, let's try a 'plate' race, if it's going to be single file anyways, let's try to get a single file pack" I personally think the corners and straightaways are too short for pack racing, but I also think they knew they had to do something to avoid a shitty repave race. And I'm a firm believer in "don't criticize anyone if you don't have a better idea" obviously the better idea is a thousand horsepower, but let's be honest, no one in charge is going to do that until they can sneak in "high horsepower hybrid" into a headline
The track needed to be re paved I agree with that but why the reconfiguration? If anything you could've just re paved it a little bit so it could be like how it was in the early or mid 2000s there really wasn't a need for a redo of the track
@@mccannmotorsports3858 Miami isn't owned by SMI it's owned by NASCAR's own company International Speedway Corporation and they have a better track record of not ruining tracks...nobody liked Homestead when it was flat and they upgraded it to the track we now have, Kansas was already a good track and they upgraded it, other than the Michigan repave that's now 10 years old they've not screwed up any tracks unlike SMI who seem bent on changing things about perfectly good race tracks.
I personally agree that the repave was inevitable and reconfiguring AMS might not have been the best decision, I think it might’ve been smart on SMI and NASCAR’s part to focus more on Atlanta‘s road course and instead of racing on the intermediate twice a year. we could race on the road course in the summer race. Charlotte Roval has been a great success the Indianapolis Roval was a great success why not add more racing fans are actually enjoying.
The only thing I'm sure of is that you can't determine it being a mistake or success based on this first race. New asphalt, extra hard tire, mostly a guess on the package.
I'll watch the race but trust me when I tell you I will have the remote in my hand and I'm sure I can find a good basketball game if it turns out the way I think it's going to go
So we all agree that the 550hp package was garbage last year right? We could have repaved Atlanta and raced the 670hp package and had a good race like we had at Vegas and Autoclub. It probably would have turned into the fastest track on the circuit again. Instead we chose to increase the banking so we can go faster but cut the hp to 550 so we get more of what we had last year. What could go wrong?
6:00 It's funny he is saying this. On the day he said it I might have agreed but after the race this weekend I'm considering buying tickets to next years Indycar race at Texas.
I wasn't concerned until listening to some recent driver comments. NO BODY knows what's going to happen and that's scary going 180+ mph. Major kudos to everyone pulling the belts tight tomorrow, they've all got some big ones.
I just saw cup practice and I think this is going to be a fantastic race. Cars passing inside and outside. Cars fading back thru the pack and being able to get back to the front. It is going to be dicey with the sharper corner radius compared to Daytona. Should be really good. I was a skeptic but I think it's going be good, unique style of racing.
On Friday afternoon, I looked at the weather forecast for Atlanta. One percent chance of rain on Sunday. This might be a very good race in spite of Eric's skepticism.
While I'm hopeful for Atlanta this weekend (especially since I'll be there), I think they should run a low downforce, medium horsepower package not unlike the current 670. I'm thinking they could do a 610 horsepower package with medium downforce that would bring similarities from Superspeedways and old atlanta.
@john Haas, that is true but I’m just thinking with the fact that nascar wants another superspeedway and autoclub needs a repave. People were much more sentimental about Atlanta and there was already talk about making autoclub a short track. Why not the opposite?
I think the premise behind the track reconfiguration is a great idea . I think it may produce some of the best racing this year, including trucks and xfinity. A mile & 1/2 super speedway with pack racing would be a lot of fun to watch. It’s gotta be better than just another mile n half tri oval.
I believe it'll look like Michigan where it'll be almost impossible to pass and to get runs. I'm afraid they just turned Atlanta into the next Texas Motor Speedway, and it's just a shame because I think this car would of raced really well on the old surface and configuration. I'm a big Iracing advocate and do a lot of Iracing myself, but one thing Iracing doesn't do well at is simulating dirty air and also overexaggerating the draft, so I'm not surprised they simulated pack racing when in actuality dirty air will prevent them from getting too close to each other.
You’re really showing your 1st grade reading comprehension side. If you could understand reading at a deeper level you’d understand I was comparing the racing style of what I believe Atlanta will be to Michigan with the 550 package, and comparing the prestige level of what Atlanta will be if it’s a flop to what happened to Texas after it’s reconfiguration. At no point was I even comparing Michigan to Texas. I apologize for not taking the time and spelling it out for you.
When they paved and reconfigured Atlanta back in 1997 it was single file racing around the bottom. If the choice was keeping it a 1.5 mile track add more banking, taking away banking isn't a big risk. Racing was going to stink anyway.
Everything SMI touches gets ruined. Texas, Kentucky, Bristol, Charlotte, Vegas. I don't know if it is the asphalt mix or what they do, but the tracks never lose grip and allows multiple grooves even when the asphalt ages.
Atlanta used to be called fastlanta back in the day. The spectacle of 850 horses going a average 190 or so a lap then multiple grooves. This is why Chicagoland needs to be back on the schedule to be the old Atlanta and after seeing this race today hell they did a tremendous job. If only.the did this at Auto.Club. although with this package auto club was a hit. Nascar good job
Hey Eric, love your content. Great video as always. Although I think you were being a bit pessimistic in this video. Yes, I can only speak for myself, but after the racing this weekend I give the new Atlanta an A. Best racing at the track in a long time, again just my opinion. Will admit the super speedways have always been my favorite. Love having a mini version of Daytona and Talladega. Lol
Idk this sounds pretty doomery IMO. At worst we get 2 days a year with 550-style racing. Hey, some people liked it, and now they'll get to see it again. Maybe others will be nostalgic for it. Everyone else, well, it's only 2 races a year. The rest of those 550 style snoozers are gone now.
Basically my Main problem with Nascar these days is that it seems like Nascar is going the way of the other major sports and moving away from thinking about the fans and drivers to thinking more about money
To Jeff Yoder: That's a no brainer. NASCAR is a business, not a charity. A business makes money. Any charity that provides racing for entertainment will create a huge deficit for everyone. Racing is a very expensive endeavor.
@@johnnyquist8362 Hey 😊👍 brother I'll be 72 in July God 🙏 willing and I know what running a business is about but where does the lusting after money get you if you lose all the fans who are paying you the money there's a line that has to be drawn at some point I've never heard of a business lasting without customers and lately Nascar has forgotten that it's been it's fan base over the years that made it what it is today so come on brother where's the line in the sand that Nascar is not going to cross
@@johnnyquist8362 and John I've been as much of a fan of Nascar as anybody and I've been a big time fan of Nascar since before I got out of elementary school and with me nearing 72 in July God 🙏 willing I'll let you figure out how many years I've been a big time fan of Nascar
Well y'all this ol'broke down scooter tramp is going to back out of here and let y'all debate about what Nascar should do or not do so they keep the fan base they have now
In prior years this track was failing miserably. Atlanta fans were driving to other tracks for exciting/entertaining racing. Thank goodness for the change with a great race and fans in the stands. Great call SMI.
Hear me out, SMI should've never got their hands on any tracks period. The best tracks in my opinion aren't owned by SMI the only exception is Bristol. My gut is telling me that this race is gonna be a big flop, If Atlanta was just getting a new surface and that's it then I would be fine with that but NASCAR and SMI should've looked at the long-term effects instead of the short-term effects. But ultimately we'll never know what this race is gonna be like until we watch it for ourselves so let's let time make the call if this a mistake or a good idea.
Understand your sentiments, but also ultimately there’s not much substance for any of us to discuss until we actually get to see cup cars racing on the track
I think on the start and restarts will be just like superspeedway and once they get spread out I feel like it will turn into early 90's plate racing where you had a pack of 4-8 cars in a line racing for the lead.
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Honestly I’m mostly concerned with it actually going well and then nascar overreacting and making every mile and a half a mini-plate track
they shoot there self in foot if they do that
Agreed. I know people hate me for saying this, but I really hope it fails.
I don't know how great it really can be; a hybrid between last years 550 hp intermediate racing and a superspeedway. People were tired of the 550 package, so I don't see a big push by the fans to build more. I don't think Nascar would be that clueless to think they need to build more. At best, I think it will be a throwback race to the Gen 6 era of racing that happens once or twice a year.
Exactly. And just as they finally fixed mile and a half’s with the Next Gen it seems too.
Nascar gonna keep messing with the speed until they lose all their fans.
I've been saying this from the beginning, some don't want another superspeedway, and would rather see old tracks, get renovations to be up in standards, and see Nascar go back to their roots
Man, you dont like Superspeedway, 1,5 mile, road course. You only like short track and old track. If WE stop at this track its because they have a reason. If you like short track watch late model no more to say stop hate everything NASCAR made new you only like old things
@@meddivilledieu1363 I don't care for Super Speedway racing
It’s roots are dirt .
@@meddivilledieu1363 bc those are boring races with little skill. My 1 year son can drive on a highway if he wanted to. Small tracks make it more technical with brake and throttle control.
@@meddivilledieu1363 superspeedway racing sucks!
Eric, I hope you're wrong. I'm kind of psyched to see the racing on the new track configuration at Atlanta. I hear your fears but have my fingers crossed it'll be great racing this weekend across all 3 series.
I don't want to harp on the NASCAR community too much, because I consider myself to be part of it, but man we complain too much with zero evidence of whatever we are whining about. I don't think we should judge Atlanta before we see any action, ESPECIALLY when there is conflicting driver reports with some drivers saying it's just a baby Daytona and others saying that its superspeedway racing but on a knife edge of grip. Believe me, I understand the importance of healthy speculation, but everyone writing off this race as garbage before the cars even touch the track is not good for the sport. Do you think people from the outside looking in are going to watch the race if they see everyone in the community complaining about this race and immediately writing it off? Healthy skepticism people, use it instead of constant negativity.
Thank you . Y’all are the reason nascar has a bad rep
I wish more fans were like you. Don't knock it until you try it, don't criticize unless you have a better idea. Thank you for the positive thinking, we need more of this
I really hate to say this but it goes back to the old saying of "if it isn't broke Don't fix it" . Granted a lot of the tracks could use resurfacing but to totally reconfigure a track without the Drivers input on it is just asking for trouble. Nascar has made some major changes of late that haven't went the way they intended them to go. I try to keep an open mind but after being a lifetime fan with going to the races in person this might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. How many Great tracks are now sitting vacant? WAY to many of them unfortunately and have heard rumors of trying to revive some of them now. 🙄
I really hope the new Atlanta will not be a mistake cause I'm a diehard Superspeedway fan of both Daytona and Talladega and I'm praying that this race will be really good
It’s not gonna be like those tho big guy
Me too only hope is that it won't be a train race but fingers 🤞
@@jermaineboyd6594 on the Dale Earnhardtjr download they kind of gave the impression that it's going to be a single file choo choo train on the bottom
@@StartsWithALetter you're crazy if you think they're taking away a Talladega date
They already have 2 dates.. Really showing your casual side.
I like the mystery of the new track. Either way, this weekend is going to be fun, thats for sure.
Atlanta’s “Superspeedway” configuration will be put up to the test within this weekend.
Hopefully the racing lives up to the hype.
Ohh it did
Not looking forward to 510 HP on a 1.5 mile track. I guess we'll see what happens. It probably would be better with the normal HP package and no bogus double yellow line rule that has arguably caused more dangerous wrecks than it has prevented.
Atlanta use to be a true oval back in the day and it was fast! They changed to configuration to accommodate more fans in the front stretch. Never liked that configuration that Texas and Charlotte have. The difference now is that they would run the cars with the regular package, not a super speedway package. I remember that it always seemed it was either Earnhardt Sr or Bobby Labonte winning there...
I love that hat you're wearing Eric lmao
Atlanta could be a very fun track but it will drive much more like a traditional mile and a half instead of a superspeedway
This didn't age well lmao
To a point this reminds me of my job. They keep making changes based on computers without any input from the actual employees. I really wish they'd consider driver's opinions
Same in the trucker industry they do what they think is best and screw what drivers think.
@@horsefly1020 yep it's crazy isn't it. I work as a delivery driver for Red Baron
If NASCAR did not put super speed way package and the plate. I think fans and drivers would love the track its basically what if homestead and Darlington had a baby
Six Superspeedways and only three true paved short tracks. It just doesn't seem right. And if you look at the future, it doesn't look like there's any plans to put another short track on the Cup schedule. A damn shame
I think a large portion of why drivers don’t like super speedway racing is because those races are truly for any driver to win, and it takes driver skill out of the running at least by a lot. Sure, it’s also more dangerous with high speeds and the close proximity to other drivers, but drivers like tracks that they feel like they can dominate or use their abilities to their advantage as opposed to a largely luck based super speedway racing
I agree. I think best case scenario is a race like we had at Michigan last year. The cars aren't slow enough in a draft to be in a big pack.
Im staying open minded. This weekend will for sure be interesting and a new experience and I am hoping the new track config holds up to the hype its getting. Who knows maybe it will be a dope race!
You can’t even drive the new configuration in iRacing yet, but they used it to create and test with…. It’s gonna be interesting for sure. Hopefully it’s a clean race.
When they were developing COT they said the same thing. They said the big spoilers and wings would turn every single 1.5 mile and bigger track into basically a plate race.
Crazy theory: Atlanta is a test to see if turning Texas into this kind of track can work and if it can that’s how SMI tries to save it
Could be the Truth on that one.
Texas needs to be a short track or a configuration to like a high banked Miami. These quad ovals are kinda running there course on me. “Old old Atlanta” was badass.
@@Northgacatfish yea indy is a good track. I always liked the races there. I always wondered how good the racing would be if a track like indy had more banking.
Or if Indy was wider also. Just a one groove track. It'd be like a square Fontana haha
I agree with this theory as a superspeedway fan
I am going to the double header tomorrow I can’t wait I have been going for the past 9 years and I’m kinda glad to see a change
I wish they would have put the track the way it use to be in the old day. Two long straightaways with two big sweeping corners. For years and years there was fantastic racing there until they tried to make it another Charlotte
Can’t wait to see what the races for trucks, Xfinity, and cup do for this new look at Atlanta.
Normally I look at a positive side to everything about the sport. But I've got to be honest, ever since they first announced this reconfig to Atlanta, I have been very apprehensive about it. I hope it's a success, I hope that I am proven wrong. But I just don't see how turning an intermediate into a quasi super speedway is going to be conducive to better racing. And with the double yellow line rule, it's just going to open up the race for controversial situations. As we know NASCAR's inconsistencies with that rule when it comes to making calls on it. I actually hate that rule at Daytona and Talladega. But that's a different conversation. But hopefully it's a competitive safe race with a lot of good racing action, and we continue this trend of good racing that the Gen 7 cars have been giving us this year.
Man you’re not letting this one go. They already have 2 dates. March 20th and July 10th.
@@mitchellswenning6058 You just don't get it do you, IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. How many times over the past five or ten years have they made major changes and lost viewers, people coming to the track in person, yes it needed repaving but to totally reconfigure it might have been the last straw for many people. I've been a lifelong race fan and used to go to the tracks every year. When they started jacking up the ticket prices I quit going. Some changes were supposed to be for safety and I get that but some have just been plain ignorant and everyone knows it. We will soon see if this was a win or a total flop pretty quick.
I don’t know why you’re arguing with because everything you said there I agree with? Someone had said they think Atlanta will get 2 dates, and I said Atlanta already has 2 dates, but I agree with everything you said and have a post saying a lot of the same things.
3:55 Remember Dover 2020????? I wonder how that would be in effect for concrete racetracks????
I was hoping to see how it was going to work out today but rain changed all that. I'll give it a chance. If the race is horrible, they can move the second race to a different track. There are plenty of ovals and permeant road courses out there. Sometime change for change's sake is a bad idea like the street course in Chicago.
I don’t think anyone, including drivers , is genuinely excited for new Atlanta
I'm very curious how the new drainage system at Atlanta is working. Obviously, they can't run if it continues to rain, but I'm interested to see how well it's draining.
I am as well, I feel like someone dropped the ball on reporting this, this is a huge step forward to avoid big rain delays that we all need, and we're just barely hearing about it now, and it's like a page 5 corner of the page story
@@palmtree82 Another aspect that will be intersting to watch long term is how it handles rubber. If water can flow through the top, hot rubber can be pushed through it too, right? Also, in order to stay porous for water to flow through, the asphalt can't be as tightly packed as it would normally be. Will it come apart from the forces 70+ cars are going to put on it this weekend? This new track with a new car and now a whole day rained out makes for too many unknowns for me.
Who remembers the 2005 Coke 600? 20 something cautions. I get that same feeling here
22 caution flags a Cup Series record... but...the first half was actually a relatively clean race, they even had green flag pit stops.
Got to try something. Attendance is down 30% from 4 years ago. Maybe restrictor plates at the new Las Vegas one-fourth mile track is the answer
I honestly thought short tracks were .5miles+, MILES were 1.0mile, Intermediates wre1.3mile to 1.5miles and superspeedways were 2mile upwards?.... I know they will be "pack" racing but it's still a Intermediate track is it not? Much love from Fife, Scotland!. Love this channel!
I think my biggest fear from new Atlanta is the safety of the drivers. Superspeedways are the most dangerous tracks on the schedule so I just hope the track is ready for them to race and probably crash hard
If F1 and Indy can crash open wheel, open cockpit cars 30mph faster than nascar then stock car drivers with roll cages and crumple zones will be fine. Every wall is now safer barrier too
Reconfigure Kentucky to a short track! That would be a race I would buy tickets to
NASCAR flipped on the 550 package because the car wasn't fast enough to get all the aero bits working effectively and thus lacked grip. They didn't just change their mind on a whim..... Let's be grateful the car works better the way it does. It gave us better racing even though NASCAR tried to fumble the ball really hard.
The problem with Atlanta’s Motor Speedway is not the track considering it did need to be replaced. The track is no where in sight of Atlanta’s which is why the fan showing is poor.
I remember Dale JR said when this was announced that he drove it on iRacing and couldn’t tell a difference between old and new, so that has me worried that this is just gonna be slow, spread out, and boring.
"Atlanta Superspeedway" needs a ROVAL race like Charlotte Motor Speedway
I have no problem with SMI changing things up. If we're going to still have a bunch of mile and a half tracks might as well differenciate them from each other. We won't really know if it was a good change for a few years.
Yeah, I also don't think that Atlanta will be as "Superspeedway like" as many fear. I think it will have it's similarities to Daytona and Talladega in it's speed and driving style but the track is still short enough where runs won't be like the pack racing we are used to seeing. I think there will be some drafting and high speeds here, but mechanical grip will still have a heavy amount of importance. I am worried about this track because it ow in my top 5 favorites, but at the same time I am excited to see this hybrid type of mile and a half/superspeedway track. We have more short tracks on the schedule, cool.... We have many mile and a halfs, alright.... We also have two superspeedways, radical... But this... This is pretty new without looking all that new. I'm very interested in how this all turns out. But I will say this. Those spoilers still gotta go. I get it at Daytona and Talladega but even there I would still want to chop them down at least an inch or two and that thought is something I have for Atlanta aswell. I guess we shall see.
I really hope the race turns out well, this will be my first NASCAR race I've been to in 13+ years (last time was the 2008 Pep Boys Auto 500 at AMS as well). Hoping that the racing will at least be somewhat of what they promised it to be haha, a pack of cars flying by at 180+ mph is always a nice sight to behold
After the truck and xfinity race, I gotta say as much as I hated the new choice to reconfigure Atlanta to a “superspeedway” I kinda like it. It doesn’t seem as chaotic as it could’ve been as long as the cup drivers don’t make boneheaded decisions(which I guess is a big if). I’m gonna put it up to the rest of time if I like it over the regular intermediate track, but so far so good
It didn’t change much how the trucks ran there previously. Reducing the HP for the cup cars is ridiculous and defeats the purpose of differentiating them from the lower series
Just hope no one gets airborne. These defusers seem like the old wing, allowing air to get caught creating lift.
I don't think anybody knows what to expect including the drivers....but if other fans feel like I do there will be a lot of eyes on this to see how the racing pans out
My thoughts here are that NASCAR knew that a repave, as necessary as it was, was going to kill this track for a few years. So they just went with, "eff it, let's try a 'plate' race, if it's going to be single file anyways, let's try to get a single file pack"
I personally think the corners and straightaways are too short for pack racing, but I also think they knew they had to do something to avoid a shitty repave race. And I'm a firm believer in "don't criticize anyone if you don't have a better idea" obviously the better idea is a thousand horsepower, but let's be honest, no one in charge is going to do that until they can sneak in "high horsepower hybrid" into a headline
If they don't have the package right this could easily turn into a single file train around the bottom where nobody can pass because of dirty air
The track needed to be re paved I agree with that but why the reconfiguration? If anything you could've just re paved it a little bit so it could be like how it was in the early or mid 2000s there really wasn't a need for a redo of the track
@@johnhaas2523 apparently not, let's just hope they don't do anything to Miami watch how mad people would be then
@@mccannmotorsports3858 Miami isn't owned by SMI it's owned by NASCAR's own company International Speedway Corporation and they have a better track record of not ruining tracks...nobody liked Homestead when it was flat and they upgraded it to the track we now have, Kansas was already a good track and they upgraded it, other than the Michigan repave that's now 10 years old they've not screwed up any tracks unlike SMI who seem bent on changing things about perfectly good race tracks.
I LOVE Superspeedway racing!!! Talladega and Daytona are the most popular races on the NASCAR circuit.
I really haven’t watched nascar for years, really since Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon raced. Didn’t those cars have more like 800-1000hp?
900 HP in 2014 I believe, right now we are at 670 HP when we aren’t at super speedways.
I personally agree that the repave was inevitable and reconfiguring AMS might not have been the best decision, I think it might’ve been smart on SMI and NASCAR’s part to focus more on Atlanta‘s road course and instead of racing on the intermediate twice a year. we could race on the road course in the summer race. Charlotte Roval has been a great success the Indianapolis Roval was a great success why not add more racing fans are actually enjoying.
I wouldn’t call Indy a success
@@connorbingel7134 while the curb issues were prevalent, I personally enjoyed both Xfinity and cup race all issues aside.
The Roval sucks…..
@@brucemerryman7365 I know me and many nascar fans disagree w/ you there
The only thing I'm sure of is that you can't determine it being a mistake or success based on this first race. New asphalt, extra hard tire, mostly a guess on the package.
I'll watch the race but trust me when I tell you I will have the remote in my hand and I'm sure I can find a good basketball game if it turns out the way I think it's going to go
They should also make the super speed way package 550 hp
The trucks and Xfinity looked ok this weekend. Waiting to see how the more powered Cup do on it.
I just want to see a classic Atlanta photo finish again. 2005 Atlanta was peak.
Hamlin cries so much I don"t think NASCAR listens to him anymore
Since it’s a super-speedway, it’s more than likely it’ll be known as Atlanta Super Speedway in the coming years.
So we all agree that the 550hp package was garbage last year right? We could have repaved Atlanta and raced the 670hp package and had a good race like we had at Vegas and Autoclub. It probably would have turned into the fastest track on the circuit again. Instead we chose to increase the banking so we can go faster but cut the hp to 550 so we get more of what we had last year. What could go wrong?
I hope this race blows people away. Would just be too much fun watching everyone walk it all back.
I agree with you CTPCAM.
I just hope we go in with open minds. The drivers will have to learn it. The second race would be a more fair judgment
I still want the old Atlanta. These cars would produce similar results.
6:00 It's funny he is saying this. On the day he said it I might have agreed but after the race this weekend I'm considering buying tickets to next years Indycar race at Texas.
I liked Atlanta when it was an oval but I'm old. Oh well.
At least they fixed the bad angle on the front stretch. That was my only worry initially but it looks like thats been taken care of
I wasn't concerned until listening to some recent driver comments. NO BODY knows what's going to happen and that's scary going 180+ mph. Major kudos to everyone pulling the belts tight tomorrow, they've all got some big ones.
510 horse power, 1.5 mile track. WHAT???
I just saw cup practice and I think this is going to be a fantastic race. Cars passing inside and outside. Cars fading back thru the pack and being able to get back to the front. It is going to be dicey with the sharper corner radius compared to Daytona. Should be really good. I was a skeptic but I think it's going be good, unique style of racing.
Bristol is still my favorite track/race, regardless of the reconfiguration
Many, if not most, of us agree with you. Bristol is the greatest racing in NASCAR. But we can't race at Bristol every Sunday.
@@johnnyquist8362 well, we could...
On Friday afternoon, I looked at the weather forecast for Atlanta. One percent chance of rain on Sunday. This might be a very good race in spite of Eric's skepticism.
While I'm hopeful for Atlanta this weekend (especially since I'll be there), I think they should run a low downforce, medium horsepower package not unlike the current 670. I'm thinking they could do a 610 horsepower package with medium downforce that would bring similarities from Superspeedways and old atlanta.
I hope the new ATL will still have great racing. Plus I just hope all the drivers make it out of the new ATL OK....
New Car, New Track, New Problems...Can't wait.
They should have made autoclub into a super speedway. It would be on the west coast and is a better size and shape.
@john Haas, that is true but I’m just thinking with the fact that nascar wants another superspeedway and autoclub needs a repave. People were much more sentimental about Atlanta and there was already talk about making autoclub a short track. Why not the opposite?
Your my favorite nascar youtuber
Too bad it rained,I would have liked to see practice.
Give them the 670hp package here
I think the premise behind the track reconfiguration is a great idea .
I think it may produce some of the best racing this year, including trucks and xfinity.
A mile & 1/2 super speedway with pack racing would be a lot of fun to watch. It’s gotta be better than just another mile n half tri oval.
I believe it'll look like Michigan where it'll be almost impossible to pass and to get runs. I'm afraid they just turned Atlanta into the next Texas Motor Speedway, and it's just a shame because I think this car would of raced really well on the old surface and configuration. I'm a big Iracing advocate and do a lot of Iracing myself, but one thing Iracing doesn't do well at is simulating dirty air and also overexaggerating the draft, so I'm not surprised they simulated pack racing when in actuality dirty air will prevent them from getting too close to each other.
You’re really showing your 1st grade reading comprehension side. If you could understand reading at a deeper level you’d understand I was comparing the racing style of what I believe Atlanta will be to Michigan with the 550 package, and comparing the prestige level of what Atlanta will be if it’s a flop to what happened to Texas after it’s reconfiguration. At no point was I even comparing Michigan to Texas. I apologize for not taking the time and spelling it out for you.
I will watch if they broadcast it on FOX, or listen on MRN. No cable.
When they paved and reconfigured Atlanta back in 1997 it was single file racing around the bottom. If the choice was keeping it a 1.5 mile track add more banking, taking away banking isn't a big risk. Racing was going to stink anyway.
Everything SMI touches gets ruined. Texas, Kentucky, Bristol, Charlotte, Vegas. I don't know if it is the asphalt mix or what they do, but the tracks never lose grip and allows multiple grooves even when the asphalt ages.
When are you going to grade some 2022 nascar paint schemes by color, design, and detail on the groove tier list?
I'll be there tomorrow and Sunday. I've got my fingers crossed.
It's my home track so I'm really hoping that the track comes out fantastic
I love the hat. I met Ross 3 times at dover. He is a nice guy
I hope you eat your words Sunday night Eric. I'm super looking forward to this race.
Atlanta used to be called fastlanta back in the day. The spectacle of 850 horses going a average 190 or so a lap then multiple grooves. This is why Chicagoland needs to be back on the schedule to be the old Atlanta and after seeing this race today hell they did a tremendous job. If only.the did this at Auto.Club. although with this package auto club was a hit. Nascar good job
The New York Jets have an easy time filling MetLife Stadium then NASCAR does at getting people to go to Texas.
Are u going to do any live stream’s this weekend??
Hey Eric, love your content. Great video as always. Although I think you were being a bit pessimistic in this video. Yes, I can only speak for myself, but after the racing this weekend I give the new Atlanta an A. Best racing at the track in a long time, again just my opinion. Will admit the super speedways have always been my favorite. Love having a mini version of Daytona and Talladega. Lol
Worst case scenario, it's only two races on the schedule. So it's not like the racing in total is ruined.
Idk this sounds pretty doomery IMO. At worst we get 2 days a year with 550-style racing. Hey, some people liked it, and now they'll get to see it again. Maybe others will be nostalgic for it. Everyone else, well, it's only 2 races a year. The rest of those 550 style snoozers are gone now.
I like more plate racing but I don’t think it will work unless you do it on a larger scale like Michigan or auto club
Bruton’s turning North Wilkesboro into a drift course next.
Basically my Main problem with Nascar these days is that it seems like Nascar is going the way of the other major sports and moving away from thinking about the fans and drivers to thinking more about money
To Jeff Yoder: That's a no brainer. NASCAR is a business, not a charity. A business makes money. Any charity that provides racing for entertainment will create a huge deficit for everyone. Racing is a very expensive endeavor.
@@johnnyquist8362 Hey 😊👍 brother I'll be 72 in July God 🙏 willing and I know what running a business is about but where does the lusting after money get you if you lose all the fans who are paying you the money there's a line that has to be drawn at some point I've never heard of a business lasting without customers and lately Nascar has forgotten that it's been it's fan base over the years that made it what it is today so come on brother where's the line in the sand that Nascar is not going to cross
@@johnnyquist8362 and John I've been as much of a fan of Nascar as anybody and I've been a big time fan of Nascar since before I got out of elementary school and with me nearing 72 in July God 🙏 willing I'll let you figure out how many years I've been a big time fan of Nascar
Well y'all this ol'broke down scooter tramp is going to back out of here and let y'all debate about what Nascar should do or not do so they keep the fan base they have now
In prior years this track was failing miserably. Atlanta fans were driving to other tracks for exciting/entertaining racing. Thank goodness for the change with a great race and fans in the stands. Great call SMI.
I don't even think people would be worried if SMI didn't remove essentially a whole lane for racing.
So does this mean the acronym for Atlanta is now Atlanta Super Speedway aka A-S-S ?
Best comment
Hear me out, SMI should've never got their hands on any tracks period. The best tracks in my opinion aren't owned by SMI the only exception is Bristol. My gut is telling me that this race is gonna be a big flop, If Atlanta was just getting a new surface and that's it then I would be fine with that but NASCAR and SMI should've looked at the long-term effects instead of the short-term effects. But ultimately we'll never know what this race is gonna be like until we watch it for ourselves so let's let time make the call if this a mistake or a good idea.
Eric where do you get those track peices I want to make a stop motion TH-cam channel and I can’t find those track parts anywhere
Was hoping to hear something about Atlanta that I didn't know. This just seems like a rant session ✌️
Understand your sentiments, but also ultimately there’s not much substance for any of us to discuss until we actually get to see cup cars racing on the track
I think on the start and restarts will be just like superspeedway and once they get spread out I feel like it will turn into early 90's plate racing where you had a pack of 4-8 cars in a line racing for the lead.