The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend for the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500.  Below are a few storylines, news and notes that I am following this weekend.

NASCAR to debut lower downforce aero package at Atlanta

One thing that is for certain is that NASCAR race fans will experience a different kind of race at Atlanta this weekend.

On Sunday at the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500, NASCAR will debut its much-anticipated lower downforce 2016 aerodynamics package.

The package is similar to the ones used at Kentucky and Darlington last year.

Lowering the downforce on a car makes it harder to drive, which puts more emphasis on driver skill and increases the potential for more passing.

Changes to the car for this season’s aero package include reductions to:

–       Spoiler – 2015: 6” tall, 2016: 3.5” tall

o    Air coming over the top of the car hits the spoiler, which pushes the back of the car down. A shorter spoiler creates less downforce than a taller spoiler.

–       Splitter – 2015: 2” overhang, 2016: .25” overhang

o    The splitter “splits” air and forces it to accelerate under the car, creating a high-pressure zone above the splitter and a low-pressure zone underneath that sucks the car down. Shortening the splitter reduces downforce.

–       Radiator Pan – 2015: 38” wide, 2016: 33” wide

o    The radiator pan is a flat panel that extends behind the splitter and under the car, deflecting air to create more downforce. A narrower panel is less effective in deflecting air, which slows airflow and creates less downforce.

The graphic explains how the aero package works:

Close finishes at Atlanta

Don’t be surprised to see another close finish when the checkered flag waves on Sunday afternoon.

Last weekend when Denny Hamlin won the Daytona, he crossed the finish line 0.010 seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr.  It was the closest margin of victory ever at the Daytona 500.

Atlanta Motor Speedway also has a storied history of close finishes.  Two of the top-10 closest finishes in NASCAR history have been recorded at the Georgia track.

On March 11, 2001, Kevin Harvick beat Jeff Gordon to the start/finish line by 0.006 seconds – the fifth-closest margin of victory in the series annals. On March 12, 2000, Dale Earnhardt edged out Bobby Labonte at Atlanta by 0.010 seconds, tied with Hamlin’s Daytona MOV and Matt Kenseth’s Rockingham MOV (2/22/04) for the seventh-closest MOV on the all-time NSCS list.

Chase Elliott to make Sprint Cup debut

The Sunoco Rookie of the Year driver will be making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at his home track – Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.  The Dawsonville, Georgia native has made two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.54-mile track, finishing fifth both times.

Elliott joins a list of other Georgians who have a history of winning NSCS races, including his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott (44 wins), Jack Smith (21) and Fonty Flock (15).  Five of Bill Elliott’s 44 wins came at AMS.

Don’t be surprised to see Chase Elliott in the No. 24 car in Victory Lane on Sunday.  There is no doubt that he will rebound from his disappointing Daytona 500 debut where he finished 37th from the pole after wrecking early in the race.

Say what?  NASCAR drivers sound off about Atlanta

Regan Smith: “I’m looking forward to getting on track with the No. 7 Nikko RC/ Toy State Chevrolet this weekend at Atlanta. This will be my first time driving the new low downforce package and with the character the track already has, this is going to make for an interesting race on Sunday. I’m excited for the new challenge.”

Ty Dillon:  “The new (downforce) package is somewhat new to me. I did get to run the Cup race there a few years ago and got a lot of good experience with the older package. I feel like I know what it takes to have a fast racecar there, but I know it is going to be different with a different (aero) package. Talking with Mike and everyone at Stewart-Haas, I think there is no reason we shouldn’t run really well and surprise some people.”

Carl Edwards: “I’m hoping Atlanta is just like it was in 2005 – the first time I really went here and felt really competitive. Atlanta is just the perfect race track. The pavement’s aged, now we’re taking a little downforce away and it might be up on the top again and that’d be cool.”

Kyle Busch:  “The racetrack has aged really nicely, where it’s probably aged too much, but you can’t repave Atlanta – that would just be stupid. It’s a place where you can run the bottom all the way from the white line and all the way to the wall and anywhere in-between. You have to have a good car there, but it’s a neat racetrack with the way you can race around and move around and not get too comfortable running one lane. Our guys have brought good cars there in the past and I’m hoping we can go for the win with our M&M’S Camry.”

Martin Truex Jr.:  “I think it’s going to be an incredible race with lower downforce on the race cars. I think the cars are going to be a real handful, and it’s going to be exciting. I’m looking forward to just kicking off that part of the season, getting to work, seeing how our cars are, where we stack up. The anticipation is high. Going to Atlanta with a little bit of momentum is always a good feeling.”

Brian Scott:  “Atlanta is such an interesting track, so worn out, so slippery. Tire management is critical. And you need every bit of grip that you can get from aerodynamics to mechanical. When you take aerodynamic grip away, it’s going to produce more challenges at a place like Atlanta. I think it will provide an even better race for the fans and a better race for the drivers who like to get up on the wheel and push the envelope and the the ones who like to take it easy and try to save their stuff for later.”

Chris Buescher:  “I love Atlanta. It’s got a lot of character in the asphalt. It’s worn-out. It’s bumpy. It makes for a really good race.”

Trevor Bayne:  “I look forward to Atlanta. It’s one of my favorite race tracks. You can run the top; you can run the bottom. I enjoy the old, gritty, worn-out race tracks that you have to manage your tires. You have to manage your race car. You have to move around and find grip.”

Brad Keselowski:  “You go to Atlanta, and it’s ‘hang on.’ Super-fast, super-slick. The track wears the tires out very, very fast. The cars have to handle well. You’re lifting a lot. You’re sideways. Just a completely different feel as a driver. The cars are going to drive much different with the new rules, and that’s to be expected. As a driver, you’re going to have to change your inputs, your techniques. Without giving anything proprietary away, it’s going to be a challenge.”

Paul Menard:  “Atlanta is probably my favorite track to drive, and there are probably a lot of drivers that say the same thing. It’s extremely fast for a lap and then I just keeps backing up. Tires fall off. Lap times really fall off throughout a run, two, three, four seconds. I think with this aero package, it’s just going to exaggerate that even more. You’re not going to have the downforce to lean on, the side-force to lean on. I’m definitely excited about it, both going to Atlanta for the first (low) downforce track after Daytona and seeing how this aero package works.”

Landon Cassill:  “It’s always cool to have a locally based partner at the racetrack, so we’re looking forward to having Fr8Auctions at Atlanta.  They get to bring all their guests and see how everything works behind the scenes and really celebrate the partnership there at their home track. And Atlanta Motor Speedway has so much character, it’s just going to be a great race for everybody.”

Kevin Harvick: “I’ve driven it at the two races. We tested at Homestead after the season ended. I think from a set‑up standpoint to get the balance back to where it needs to be is different than what it was in the past. So those target numbers for the engineers and crew chief are definitely different than what they were. But, the good news is we have a lot of baselines of things that I like, and I think Homestead answered a lot of questions for us. I think that’s you go through the year, there’s definitely going to be an evolution of the car from an aero standpoint and balance standpoint. So there’s definitely a lot of things to work through still. But I feel like Homestead went really well for us. We had a chance to win the Darlington race, so we have to go out and race and see what happens.”

Kyle Larson:  “It’s great to be heading into Atlanta with a really good race in Daytona behind us. Last week, with all the chances to be on track, I had a lot of time to get used to hearing the new guys on the radio and working out what a race weekend would be like for us. I’m excited to run the new package this weekend and get a sense of how our Target Chevy will be at a track that’s similar in size to where we run most weekends. Atlanta is a tough place to race and can be hard on our cars, but it’s a fun track. We ended last season with some good runs at the intermediate tracks, so I’m hopefully to pick up where we left off last year.”

Austin Dillon:  “I think Atlanta Motor Speedway will be important for Richard Childress Racing. It’s the real start to the 2016 race season with the new rules package and we’ll be able to see where we line up compared to other teams.  We’ve been really focused. We’ve been working hard in the off season and I think the guys have done a good job. I’m anxious to get to Atlanta Motor Speedway more than anything to see how we line up and to see how our vehicles turn and handle at a mile-and-half track.”

Kurt Busch: “It’s a tough, tough race. The asphalt is worn out and the tires have a hard time maintaining pace. All of those factors combined make this a very challenging race. I won a couple of spring races in a row at Atlanta in 2009 and 2010 – races when it was nice and cool out. It’s a very different racetrack in cool and hot conditions. The practice sessions seem very limited when we’re there, so you’ve got to unload fast and stay fast.”

Ryan Newman: “I think the new rules package is going to be great. I think it’s a good starting point for where we need to be eventually which is back to the 1990s versus the 2000s. Having less downforce on the car is going to make the drivers have to perform and make it more challenging to perform. In my opinion, that’s what it should be all about. Our cars have become so aero dependent that it just was so unfair to have track position especially with how our sport is structured with the fastest car up front. I think the racing will get so much better when the cars are less aero dependent.”

Kasey Kahne: “Atlanta is one of the tracks that I really enjoy. It has been one of my favorite tracks for years and still is, so I’m looking forward to Atlanta early in the season. I’m hoping that it’s clear and we don’t have rain or snow, or anything like that. I think that it will be a good one to get some momentum rolling at. We’ve ran great there a lot of times over the seasons and I have three wins and a few top-five finishes, so it has been one of my better race tracks. It’s a nice place to get going on our more traditional style of race tracks.”

Jimmie Johnson:  “To say I’m looking forward to Atlanta this weekend is an understatement. Last year we started so deep in the field because we had a terrible qualifying run. It wasn’t too fun but we had such a fast Lowe’s Chevrolet that we made our way through the field and got the track position we needed. Making the Chase the second race into the year was great because we just could go out there and win – the pressure was off. We didn’t have the run we wanted in Daytona, handling was an issue on race day. We had a great test in Vegas with a fast car so I’m ready to roll at Atlanta.”

Jamie McMurray: “Atlanta is a track that demands focus to be consistent on long runs. As a driver you really need to try and hit your marks and manage tire wear. The track surface is pretty old and rough; it uses up tires pretty quick, I think that makes it a lot of fun. We had a really good car last year in Atlanta and battled up front for most of the day before getting caught in an accident. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble and keep the McDonald’s Chevy in contention all day.”

Paul Menard: “We definitely know this package races better than what we had previously. The key is going to be how the tires match up to the downforce. If we get some good, grippy tires that have fall off so we can put big numbers on the board in qualifying but then grip falls off so we can race side-by-side. That’s what we are all looking for and Atlanta is a great track to start it off at.”

A.J. Allmendinger: “With the low downforce package, I think you are going to be just sliding around a lot more. It will be kind of based off of what tire Goodyear brings. If it’s a soft tire that’s got a lot of speed initially, it’s really going to wear off. If it’s a little bit harder, maybe it doesn’t fall off as much.”

Casey Mears: “The lower downforce will make Atlanta Motor Speedway even more of a handful. The No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS would historically lose a lot of grip really fast at Atlanta, so fans should expect there to be even more slipping and sliding. Atlanta has a lot of character – meaning it has some pretty big bumps and the tire fall-off is huge. It also has a lot of different lines to choose from which makes it fun to drive. While we’re in Atlanta for the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500, I’ll be taking the family to the AMA Supercross race thanks to Troy Lee Designs. It’s always fun to take in some motorcycle racing.”

Clint Bowyer: “It seems like we’ve been in position a few times to win that race but have had something happen to us toward the end. I had a six second lead with four laps to go two years ago and last year lost a cylinder and got wrecked with 10 to go running second.  Hopefully, we can have the same performance with a different finish this weekend.  I am so proud to have Aaron’s on the car.  This is their backyard and Aaron’s will be bringing a lot of people who I have gotten to know over the past few years.  A lot of NASCAR fans know Aaron’s and their support of the sport, so it would be a lot of fun to take them to victory lane.  But boy oh boy this track is fast and we always put on a heck of a show for the fans.  I love it, but you better hold on tight during qualifying.  It is incredibly fast and it will take your breath away.”

Danica Patrick: “I like Atlanta. It’s a place that I’ve done pretty well at. I’ve actually done pretty well at tracks that are a little odd or challenging or different. And the rules will make it different again, but it’s the same for everybody. I haven’t really driven the new package since last year. Kurt (Busch) and Kevin (Harvick) have driven that package at tests for our team, and I feel like each year for the last few years, as a team, we’ve only gotten stronger and more organized and on top of things. I feel like our cars will be good, and I feel like our setups will be close. Hopefully it will be another fun Atlanta weekend.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I’m looking forward to Atlanta. I think the whole series is looking forward to going to Vegas, Atlanta and all of those places with this new package. It’s going to be a whole new ballgame. Everybody is wondering where everybody is after the off season. Every year you kind of have to get another measure of your competition because everybody kind of gets a little better in the offseason, so we’ll see how that all works out once we get to the next couple of tracks. Daytona Speedweeks has always been a little bit different – it’s not a true measuring stick of what the rest of the season might look like or who might be the dominant team.”

Chase Elliott: “It’s always been a special place to me. My dad and I have done a lot of racing here on the front stretch, whether it be a Bandolero or Legends car. It’s odd, I guess, to think about being part of this Sprint Cup weekend. I can remember racing the Legends when the Cup cars were in town. I’m excited to be part of the show this year and hopefully put on a good one for the fans. For us and a lot of guys, Atlanta is like that Week 1 for our season because we’re going to see racetracks like this more so as we go. I’m excited to get there. It’s my home track and is as close to home as I’m going to get on the NASCAR circuit, so I think that’s special.”

NASCAR Fast Facts

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Feb. 28

The Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 500.5 miles (325 laps)

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: Heads Up Georgia 250

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, Feb. 27

The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 251.02 miles (163 laps)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: Great Clips 200

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, Feb. 27

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 4 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 200.2 miles (130 laps)

NASCAR Programming

• FOX 100K Cameras: Daytona – Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1
• Darrell Wallace Jr. on “Playlist” – March 5 on Fuse
• Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Party Down South” – March 10 on CMT
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. on “Treehouse Masters” – March 11 on Animal Planet
• Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Wahlburgers” – March 16 on A&E