We’re formally onto the second race of the 2026 NASCAR season, with the Cup Sequence headed to Atlanta for one more superspeedway race. As we all the time do with our NASCAR predictions, we wish to mission what’s going to occur within the Cup Sequence race this weekend earlier than qualifying.
Let’s dive into our NASCAR picks for the AutoTrader 400. Our predictions will vary from stage winners and who goes to victory lane to some notable finishers.
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Kyle Busch Data a High-5 End
David Yeazell-Imagn Photos
Kyle Busch’s winless streak within the Cup Sequence is now at 93 races, a drought that appeared unimaginable for one of many winningest drivers in NASCAR historical past. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that his final win in NASCAR got here final 12 months within the Truck Sequence at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He additionally boasts the perfect common ending place () with the fifth-most laps led (72) and is tied for essentially the most top-10s (5) at EchoPark Speedway for the reason that 2023 season. We don’t suppose Busch’s winless drought ends on Sunday in Atlanta, however he’ll get a top-five end.
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Carson Hocevar Delivers a High-10 at Atlanta
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos
Carson Hocevar was main the Daytona 500 on the ultimate lap when catastrophe struck, with the No. 77 getting run into after which wrecking out. It ruined what may have been an ideal begin to the season for the 23-year-old. Fortuitously for Spire Motorsports, Hocevar has fairly the observe report up to now within the Cup Sequence at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He has completed within the high 20 in all 4 races with Spire, together with a second-place end within the Ambetter Well being 400 final 12 months at EchoPark in February. The velocity Hocevar is bringing to the desk and the smarter strategy he takes behind the wheel will propel him to a top-10 end on Sunday.
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Christopher Bell Wins Stage 1
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos
The Daytona 500 couldn’t have gone a lot worse for Christopher Bell. Close to the entrance of the sphere, the No. 20 sat in thirteenth place when he acquired hooked into the wall and in the end completed with simply two factors. Given the added significance of factors underneath the Chase format now in place, the No. 20 group must prioritize popping out with one thing from Atlanta. They’ll seemingly play the technique sport early, taking Stage 1 to place themselves with 10 much-needed factors as Bell slowly begins to climb his method again up the factors leaderboard.
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Austin Cindric Wins Stage 2
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos
Austin Cindric is underneath stress to carry out this season, with the return of the 10-race Chase and points-earned playoff spots complicating his path in. A visit to Atlanta ought to assist. Since 2023, Cindric has the second-most laps led (198) and, simply final 12 months, he positioned second in Stage 1 and ninth in Stage 2 at EchoPark. Cindric doesn’t essentially have the perfect observe report of ending races at EchoPark (three DNFs), however he’ll win Stage 2 on Sunday.
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Ryan Blaney Wins the Autotrader 400
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos
Ryan Blaney now has 10 DNFs within the final calendar 12 months, with unhealthy luck seemingly discovering the No. 12 automotive each week. The hope for Group Penske is that after being snake-bitten at Daytona this previous Sunday, Blaney will rebound at one in every of his greatest tracks. In 15 profession Cup Sequence races at Atlanta, he has recorded a top-five end 33% of the time, with a top-10 in 60% of these begins. In a battle to the end with teammate Joey Logano, Blaney comes out on high for his first win of the season.
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