Up to Speed: Ultimate Tailgating 200 Preview

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent

After the events of Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series is ready to get running at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Austin Hill earned his first-career victory last weekend and locked himself into the Playoffs. Daytona set two records, fewest trucks to finish, and the longest race for the Truck Series in mileage.

Drivers playing catch up, an old, worn racing surface, inclement weather, and tire wear are just some of the storylines heading into the Ultimate Tailgating 200.

Coverage for the Ultimate Tailgating 200 is scheduled to start Saturday evening at 4:30 p.m. ET. Atlanta Motor Speedway has been the second race of the season since 2015. In 17 races at the 1.5-mile Quad-Oval track, 16 drivers have claimed victory.

The last time the Truck Series visited Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brett Moffitt took the victory in shocking fashion. He held off Noah Gragson and Johnny Sauter to earn Hattori Racing Enterprises’ first victory by 1.326 seconds. Moffitt won in part due to a pit road miscue for Kyle Busch. Seven of the drivers that finished in the top-10 that night are entered in this weekend’s race.

Both Busch and Moffitt are the only two previous winners entered in Saturday’s race. With 33 entries for a 32-truck grid, either qualifying or the weather will determine who makes the field.

By the Numbers

What: Ultimate Tailgating 200, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Race 2

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: 1.5-mile Quad-Oval

Banking: 24 degrees in turns, 5 degrees on straightaways

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

2018 Race Winner: Brett Moffitt – No. 16 AISIN Group Toyota Tundra (Started 10^th, two laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Spencer Gallagher (47.332 seconds, 190.146 mph – 02/20/2015).

Storylines Heading into the Ultimate Tailgating 200:

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

• Korbin Forrister returns in the No. 7 Toyota Tundra for All Out Motorsports.
• Anthony Alfredo will make his NGOTS debut in the No. 17 Ceco Building Systems Toyota Tundra for DGR – Crosley.
• Chad Finley returns in the No. 42 Auto Value Certified Service Centers Chevrolet Silverado for Chad Finley Racing.
• Timothy Peters returns in the No. 44 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
• Ross Chastain will be in the No. 45 OEM2 Powered by TruNorth Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
• Kyle Busch will make his first start of the season in the No. 51 CESSNA Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch is chasing a record-setting win the Truck Series.
• Timmy Hill will be in the No. 63 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports.
• Parker Kligerman will make his first start of the season in the No. 75 Food Country USA Chevrolet Silverado for Henderson Motorsports.
• B.J. McLeod will be in the No. 80 Ford F-150 for Jacob Wallace Racing.
• Jesse Little will make his first start of the season in the No. 97 Skuttle Tight Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Friday, February 22

• NCWTS Practice 1 (2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., streamed live on NASCAR.com)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (4:05 p.m. – 4:50 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, February 23

• NCWTS Qualifying (10:40 a.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS Ultimate Tailgating 200 (4:30 p.m. – 130 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)