NASCAR Atlanta race live updates: Leaderboard, highlights for In-Season Challenge

An exciting night of racing is on tap in Hampton, Georgia, as EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) hosts a prime-time NASCAR Cup Series race that will also serve as the first round of the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

Priority No. 1 for the full field of drivers on the high-speed, high intensity oval: take the checkered flag in the Quaker State 400 and celebrate in victory lane. But for the 32 drivers that are participating in the in-season tournament, there is a second priority: outduel your head-to-head opponent and advance to the second round.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe earned the top two seeds in the In-Season Challenge and will face the No. 32 and No. 31 seeds, respectively, but there are 14 other intriguing matchups to follow during the race as drivers endeavor to finish better than their opponent and compete again next week on the streets of Chicago in the tournament’s Sweet 16.

Atlanta Motor Speedway will host two NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025.

In the meantime, there are stages to win, regular-season and playoffs points to amass and a burnout to be had for the winning driver.

USA TODAY Sports will have coverage of the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. Follow along for all the action and results:

NASCAR Atlanta Stage 2 opens with big crash

Moments after the green flag waved to start Stage 2, the Big One unfolded at EchoPark Speedway after Denny Hamlin made contact with John Hunter Nemechek, causing a massive crash that engulfed a large chunk of the field. Both cars had begun the second segement in the Top 10, so multiple rows racing behind them were collected.

Hamlin the No. 1 seed in the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge was towed to the garage as was Stage 1 winner Austin Cindric after both suffered major damage. Pole winner Joey Logano also sustained major damage. An estimated 23 cars were involved in the crash, which will have big implications for the first round of the Challenge.

NASCAR displayed the red flag on Lap 70 of 260 to tow cars off the track and clean up the oval.

NASCAR Atlanta race: Stage 2 begins

Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher led the field to green on a restart on Lap 69 of 260 to begin Stage 2 of the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. The second and third segments are each scheduled for 100 laps.

Christopher Bell starts multicar crash; Stage 1 ends under caution

Christopher Bell got loose with three laps remaining in the 60-lap opening stage between Turns 3 and Turn 4 to trigger a multicar crash and bring out the caution flag. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch and AJ Allmendinger among the drivers who sustained some damage. Blaney exited his car, ending his race, after a hard hit into the outside wall. It was Blaney's sixth DNF this season.

The stage finished under caution with Austin Cindric winning the opening segment. He was followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, William Byron, Carson Hocevar in the top fifth. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Josh Berry, Shane Van Gisbergen, Chase Elliott and Wallace rounded out the Top 10.

NASCAR Atlanta race restarts on Lap 48

Joey Logano and Austin Cindric led the field to green following a roughly 15-minute delay for weather. The majority of cars came down pit road prior to the restart for fuel, tires and/or adjustments, including Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin. But the leaders stayed out. Thre are 12 laps remaining in the first stage.

NASCAR Atlanta race lap 43: Red flag waves

As the race remains under a weather delay at EchoPark Speedway, NASCAR officials displayed the red flag on Lap 43 and brought the cars down pit road. The rain remains light.

NASCAR Atlanta race lap 37: Caution flag waves

A light sprinkle has hit EchoPark Speedway bringing out the caution flag. Joey Logano has led every lap of the race so far. Drivers are expected to hit pit road for adjustments during the caution period.

NASCAR Atlanta race lap 35: Joey Logano leads

Pole winner Joey Logano has led all 35 laps in the opening stage of the Quaker State 400. The first stage is 60 laps. Austin Cindric, Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski, William Byraon and Kyle Larson round out the top six.

NASCAR Atlanta race starts as green flag flies

The green flag has waved for the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Joey Logano in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford is on the front row alongside Josh Berry in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford.

How to watch NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta: TV, stream

• Race: Quaker State 400
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: EchoPark Speedway (Hampton, Georgia)
• TV: TNT, alternate telecast on truTV
• Live stream: Sling TV

What is the green flag time for NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

The green flag to start the Quaker State 400 is scheduled for 7:19 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 28, at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

What is the lineup for NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

Joey Logano won the pole for the Quaker State 400 in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford as Ford drivers took the top eight spots in qualifying. Josh Berry will start alongside Logano on the front row in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Logano's Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, qualified third and fourth, respectively, and will start on the second row.

What is the weather forecast for NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

The Weather Channel is calling for a 65% chance of isolated thunderstorms around the Hampton, Georgia area, with the track placed on a lightning hold around 5:30 p.m. ET and lifted just after 6 p.m. ET. If rain hits the track, it should clear out of the area later this evening, with the forecast changing to showers around 9 p.m. ET and mostly cloudy skies at 10 p.m. ET. Temperatures will drop from the low 80s to the mid-to-low 70s.

NASCAR In-Season Challenge first-round pairings

Here are the pairings for the first-round race at Echo Park Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) on Saturday, June 28. The winner of each head-to-head matchup advances to the next round.

Top half of draw

• No. 1 Denny Hamlin vs. No. 32 Ty Dillon
• No. 16 Kyle Busch vs. No. 17 Brad Keselowski
• No. 8 Alex Bowman vs. No. 25 Joey Logano
• No. 9 Bubba Wallace vs. No. 24 Daniel Suarez
• No. 12 John Hunter Nemechek vs. No. 21 Josh Berry
• No. 5 Chase Elliott vs. No. 28 Austin Dillon
• No. 13 Ross Chastain vs. No. 20 Erik Jones
• No. 4 Christopher Bell vs. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Bottom half of draw

• No. 2 Chase Briscoe vs. No. 31 Noah Gragson
• No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 18 William Byron
• No. 7 Ryan Blaney vs. No. 26 Carson Hocevar
• No. 10 Kyle Larson vs. No. 23 Tyler Reddick
• No. 11 Michael McDowell vs. No. 22 AJ Allmendinger
• No. 6 Ty Gibbs vs. No. 27 Justin Haley
• No. 14 Zane Smith vs. No. 19 Austin Cindric
• No. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 30 Todd Gilliland

How NASCAR In-Season Challenge works: Matchups, rounds

The NASCAR In-Season Challenge puts the 32 drivers in a bracket, which begins with 16 first-round matchups.

The No. 1 seed faces the No. 32 seed in the first round, the No. 2 seed takes on the No. 31 seed, No. 3 matches up with the. No. 30 seed, etc. The losers of the head-to-head matchups will be eliminated, and the 16 winners will advance to the second round, where the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 32 matchup will face the winner of the No. 16 vs. No. 17 matchup, the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 31 matchup takes on the winner of the No. 15 vs. No. 18 matchup, etc.

Like March Madness, the tournament will move from a Round of 32 to a Sweet 16 to an Elite Eight to a Final Four and finally a championship race.

• First round: 32 drivers in 16 head-to-head matchups; 16 drivers eliminated at end of race.
• Second round: 16 drivers in eight head-to-head matchups; eight drivers eliminated at end of race.
• Third round: Eight drivers in four head-to-head matchups; four drivers eliminated at end of race.
• Fourth round: Four drivers in two head-to-head matchups; two drivers eliminated at end of race.
• Fifth round: Two drivers in a head-to-head matchup; winner wins the in-season challenge.

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

The Quaker State 400 is 260 laps around the 1.54-mile oval for a total of 400.4 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 100 laps; Stage 3: 100 laps.

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta start?

The Quaker State 400 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 28, at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

NASCAR In-Season Challenge races

All times Eastern

Round 1 — 32 drivers

• Echo Park Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway)
• Saturday, June 28 | 7 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast

Round 2 — 16 drivers

• Chicago street race
• Sunday, July 6 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast

Round 3 — 8 drivers

• Sonoma Raceway
• Sunday, July 13 | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast

Round 4 — 4 drivers

• Dover Motor Speedway
• Sunday, July 20 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast

Round 5 championship — 2 drivers

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Sunday, July 27 | 2 p.m. | TNT, truTV altcast

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