Up to Speed: Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

With one race in the books, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will move from a track known for its’ history to a track known for its’ old and worn out surface. Drivers looking to rebound after Daytona, Kyle Busch’s first appearance of the season, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Coverage for the Active Pest Control 200 is scheduled to start Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET. 2018 marks the sixth season in which Atlanta Motor Speedway is the second race on the Truck Series schedule, the first of which came in 2004. In 16 races at the 1.54-mile D-shaped oval, 12 drivers have claimed victory. The last eight races at Atlanta have produced eight different winners.

The last time the Truck Series visited Atlanta Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell took the victory in dominant fashion. Bell became the first driver to sweep the entire Truck Series weekend, winning the pole, both stages, and the race. Busch and Matt Crafton are the only former winners entered in Saturday’s race.

By the Numbers

What: Active Pest Control 200, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Two

Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, Georgia (Opened: 1960)

TV/Radio: Fox Sports 1, 4:30 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 1.54-mile D-Shaped Oval

Banking: 24 degrees in turns, five degrees on straightaways

Race Length: 130 Laps, 200 Miles (Three Stages, 40/80/130)

2017 Race Winner: Christopher Bell – No. 4 JBL.com Toyota Tundra (Start on the Pole, 99 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Rick Crawford (30.339 seconds, 182.735 mph – 03/17/2005).

Storylines Heading Into the Active Pest Control 200:

There are several storylines going into this weekend’s race to watch for:

• Jordan Anderson will be in the No. 3 Bommarito / Lucas Oil Chevrolet Silverado this week. Last week he competed in a Toyota Tundra. The NT1 Spec Engine allows this change to occur more easily.
• Kyle Busch will make his first start of the year in his own No. 4 Cessna Toyota Tundra.
• Korbin Forrister returns in the No. 7 Tru Clear Global Toyota Tundra for All Out Motorsports.
• Joe Nemechek will be in the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports.
• Tyler Young will attempt his first start of the season in the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.
• Josh Reaume will once again attempt to qualify in the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• Spencer Davis returns in the No. 51 Rheem Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Bo LeMastus will return in the No. 54 David Gilliland Racing – CROSLEY Group Toyota Tundra.
• Akinori Ogata will attempt his first start of the season in the No. 63 Nisshinbo Chevrolet Silverado for MB Motorsports.
• Parker Kligerman returns in the No. 75 Food Country USA Chevrolet Silverado for Henderson Motorsports.
• Jesse Little will attempt his first start of the season in the No. 97 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Friday, February 23

• NCWTS Practice 1 (2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, February 24

• NCWTS Qualifying (10:35 a.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS Active Pest Control (4:30 p.m. – 130 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)