​The NASCAR Cup Series will race under the lights in Atlanta on Sunday night at EchoPark Speedway, with the Quaker State 400 on the schedule. With the starting lineup for today set, it’s time to come up with some predictions for tonight’s race. Let’s dive into our Quaker State 400 picks, from stage winners to who will end up in victory lane at EchoPark.
Joey Logano is in need of a strong result. The No. 22 car driver enters Sunday 16 points below the playoff cutline and hasn’t posted a race with 30 or more points since Michigan. That stretch could end tonight. After qualifying second on Saturday, Logano and his team should capitalize by contending for Stage 1, with a setup that should yield a solid early result. If he collects 10 stage points, a top-12 finish could propel him back above the cutline by night’s end at Atlanta.
A sweep of the stages by Team Penske seems plausible in Atlanta. Austin Cindric may not have matched his teammates’ speed in qualifying, but he remains among the quickest in the field. He has historically performed well at EchoPark, securing stage wins in five of the last seven races at this track and finishing second three additional times. With the Championship ultimately approaching, Cindric could create some breathing room tonight, beginning with a Stage 2 victory.
On the Toyota side, the No. 23 car showed substantial speed in one-lap qualifying, even if that wasn’t the whole story. The No. 23 outpaced teammate Tyler Reddick in speed, and Bubba Wallace has a track history at EchoPark that warrants consideration. He led 46 laps in the spring, finishing ninth overall and earning a Stage 1 win plus a Stage 2 runner-up finish for 48 points. While repeating that exact performance may be unlikely, Wallace’s improved drafting efficiency on these kind of tracks and Toyota’s overall success with their current setup could lead to a strong night, possibly reaching 38-plus points at EchoPark.
Chase Elliott has enjoyed a solid season overall, though his last top-10 finish came in Nashville, and his most recent victory was at Texas Motor Speedway. Returning home to Georgia could provide a spark, as EchoPark has historically been kind to him—an 11.3 average finish over 15 races with two wins. Elliott showed solid form in Saturday’s qualifying, and with crew chief Alan Gustafson making timely strategic calls, he could secure his third Cup win of the season tonight.
In sum, expect Logano to capitalize on a strong qualifying position and push toward a top-12 finish to tighten his playoff standing, while Cindric aims to dominate Stage 2 as Penske looks to sweep the stage wins. Toyota’s No. 23 and Bubba Wallace should both be in the mix for a strong points night, with Wallace benefiting from EchoPark’s layout and the team’s ongoing efficiency improvements. Finally, Elliott’s Georgia homecoming could yield a timely victory run, potentially adding a third win to his season as the Quaker State 400 unfolds at EchoPark.