​The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Atlanta for the second time this season with the Quaker State 400 set for July 12 at EchoPark Speedway. Ryan Blaney earned the pole position, heading a solid contingent of Fords and a few Chevrolet entries from Hendrick Motorsports. Notably, no Toyota drivers cracked the top 10 in qualifying, suggesting teams may prioritize race-day handling over outright qualifying speed. Tyler Reddick previously captured the February race at EchoPark Speedway, even after incurring damage in the final 100 laps.
Here’s how to watch the race on Sunday: Atlanta race picks, expert predictions for the Cup Series at Atlanta in 2026. Green flag is projected to fly around 6:15 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, July 12. The venue is EchoPark Speedway, a 1.54-mile oval located in Hampton, Georgia. The race distance is 260 laps, totaling 400.4 miles, with stage lengths of 60 laps, 100 laps, and 100 laps.
Television coverage will be on TNT at a national level, while radio coverage can be heard on PRN (with 102.5-FM The Game in Nashville providing a local feed). Streaming options include the HBO MAX app for the full broadcast with in-car cameras (subscription required) and audio options via NASCAR.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 (subscription required).
The Quaker State 400 is among the marquee events broadcast nationally on TNT. For fans seeking alternate streaming routes, HBO MAX will carry the full broadcast and in-car camera feeds for each driver.
Trackside action in the lead-up to the race shows Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, celebrating a victory in Phoenix. All times listed are Central.
As a quick glance at the 2026 schedule through June, notable results include the Feb. 4 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (non-points) won by Ryan Preece, and the Feb. 12 America 250 Duels at Daytona, won by Joey Logano and Chase Elliott. The Feb. 15 Daytona 500 saw Tyler Reddick take the checkered flag. The Feb. 22 Autotrader 400 at Atlanta was also won by Reddick, followed by Reddick’s triumph at the March 1 DuraMax Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. March 8’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix was won by Blaney, while March 15’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas saw Denny Hamlin as the victor. March 22’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington was captured by Reddick, March 29’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville went to Chase Elliott, and April 5 was an open weekend. The April 12 Food City 500 at Bristol celebrated Ty Gibbs as the winner, followed by Tyler Reddick’s AdventHealth 400 victory at Kansas on April 19. Carson Hocevar claimed the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega on April 26. May 3’s Wurth 400 at Texas was won by Chase Elliott, with May 10’s Go Bowling at The Glen featuring Shane van Gisbergen’s win. The NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover on May 17 went to Denny Hamlin (non-points), and Daniel Suárez won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on May 24. Denny Hamlin then won the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, and he also claimed the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on June 7. The season continued with the Great American Getaway at Michigan on June 14, setting the stage for the Atlanta race and the rest of the year.