Kevin Harvick’s 3 Words to Describe Atlanta Leave Daytona’s Legacy in the Mud

The insanity of superspeedway racing has been characterized for decades by Daytona and Talladega: bands of cars inches apart, 200 mph drafting, and thrilling finishes. And, Atlanta’s recent makeover has forced NASCAR to test the boundaries of its superspeedway package, resulting in a race that has never been seen before.

The mayhem peaked at the Ambetter Health 400 as the race roared into the final laps. The draft, three wide and inches apart, changed and surged like a raging hurricane. One moment Kyle Larson was in the lead, and as the white flag waved, Christopher Bell took the lead.

It was exactly what Kevin Harvick had described: “Racing on steroids.” His point was validated by what Carson Hocevar and Blaney did in the last few laps. And, why shouldn’t they run with aggression and desperation, we saw that in Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s racing and Hocevar is on the same path.

“I finished second. We’re here to win races, not be a boy band and love each other and play on the playground together,” Hocevar said.

“You’re tense,” Harvick remarked. “I know it’s strange to say that Atlanta is superspeedway racing on steroids, but that’s how it appears.” Atlanta requires constant reaction, in contrast to Daytona’s extended runs when drivers may plan moves. Remember the 2024 Ambetter Health 400 where Daniel Suárez won in a three-wide photo finish with Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch, marking the 4th closest finish in Cup Series history. A true spectacle of NASCAR racing!

But isn’t that what Daytona was known for? Let’s take the 1959 Daytona 500, the first race in the superspeedway’s calendar that ended in a photo finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp. And, then the 1964 race, where Richard Petty lead 184 laps alone. That’s the legacy NASCAR fans cherish. Now, looking at what Atlanta has begun to deliver, maybe it’s in danger.  

Further noting the conflict with the air Harvick added, “Everything moves so fast. Being around a large pack disrupts the way the air is tumbling over the car land.” Joey Logano’s footcam provided the evidence; he led with his foot never leaving the throttle. He struggled to keep the car steady in the choppy wake of those in front of him as his foot danced on the pedals as he shuffled into the pack.

And the race produced again another stunning photo finish, as Harvick had foreseen. Once more, the checkered flag wasn’t determined until the very last few inches, despite his statement that “it creates photo finishes at every race.” It had been worth the gamble to transform Atlanta Motor Speedway into this crazy, unpredictable superspeedway. “When you consider how courageous Marcus Smith and those guys were to transform that racetrack, they have transformed Atlanta Speedway into what is likely the most anticipated race on the schedule.”

Atlanta has established a reputation as NASCAR’s most competitive and unpredictable superspeedway but somewhat still lacks Daytona’s decades-old tradition.

Have drivers tamed pack racing?

Of course, Atlanta is the wheel-to-wheel battlefield where pack racing in the style of the superspeedway produces constant action and extremely narrow gaps. In the past, that formula has resulted in chaos due to side-drafts gone awry, aero pushes, and high-speed collisions that wipe out half the field. But in the most recent race, Denny Hamlin was astounded by how clean the race was, as the anticipated carnage never materialized.

With drivers continuously looking for clean air and attempting to avoid the dreaded aero wash, Atlanta has been a racetrack on steroids since its reconfiguration. It is shorter than Daytona and Talladega but just as fierce. Being an expert at the draft, Hamlin anticipated the typical pattern of strong runs, forceful blocks, and unavoidable multi-car jams. But despite frequent three-wide clashes and risky last-minute maneuvers, the field was able to maintain its position.

“Like, you could feel the intensity picking up. Everyone’s starting to push more. The gaps, between the side-to-side, start to shrink. But it was like that from 100 to go on. It was like — it was crazy. It was crazy. It’s just a testament really how good the spotters are. How good the drivers are. Just, you know — it’s amazing to watch,” he said on his Actions Detrimental podcast.

“I was shocked we didn’t see more torn-up race cars,” Hamlin admitted. With the next-gen car already a handful in the draft and cars darting around trying to control air off the nose and spoiler, it seemed like a wreck-fest waiting to happen. Instead, drivers showed remarkable discipline, managing their cars in the dirty air and making calculated moves rather than desperate lunges.