Nascar Race Today: Autotrader 400 lineup set after qualifying canceled at EchoPark Speedway
Qualifying for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, was canceled Saturday, leaving the starting grid to be set by the governing body's metric — a development that shapes the nascar race today field and Sunday’s strategy. The change follows weather interruptions and locks in a 3 p. m. Sunday start for the race.
Nascar Race Today: Pole sitter and metric points put Tyler Reddick up front
Tyler Reddick, the Daytona 500 winner from last week, will hold the pole position to open Sunday’s Autotrader 400 after rain canceled Saturday’s qualifier, and the governing body’s metric was used to set the lineup. Reddick drives for 23XI Racing, and the pole leaves open the question of whether he can win back-to-back events and give 23XI Racing a strong start to the 2026 season.
Mother Nature claimed its first victim: lightning and rain stopped qualifying
Organizers said Mother Nature claimed its first victim on Saturday in terms of the NASCAR schedule at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Cup Series qualifying was nixed because of lightning in the area. A separate account noted rain canceled the Saturday qualifier, and the combined weather interruptions meant the metric was used to determine starting spots.
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team to start fourth; Hendrick Motorsports lineup detailed
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team will line up fourth on Sunday afternoon after Elliott finished fourth in last week’s DAYTONA 500. The Hendrick Motorsports contingent will include William Byron rolling off 13th, Kyle Larson 16th and Alex Bowman 36th.
Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia — schedule and season note
The weekend’s Cup race is the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, with Sunday’s race set for a 3 p. m. start. The event is part of the 2026 NASCAR season, coming a week after "The Great American Race, " and the lineup alteration means teams will begin their race planning from metric-based grid positions rather than from Saturday qualifying runs.
Top-five starters and immediate storylines: Logano, Stenhouse Jr. and Keselowski join Elliott near the front
Joey Logano will start second in Sunday’s race after finishing third in last week’s Daytona 500. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski round out the top five starting spots, putting several experienced contenders within striking distance of the front. With Reddick on the pole, the early narrative is whether he can convert the position into a second straight victory and bolster 23XI Racing’s opening-season momentum.
