The NAPA 55 Team Prepares for Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta boasts some of the fastest speeds. What is it like during qualifying?

“The sensation of speed when you qualify is probably greater than anywhere we race on the whole circuit. You really have to be committed to go out there and get on that pole because it takes a lot of foot on the floorboard to make it around the 1.5-mile track. You really feel the speed, but it’s not scary by any means unless something goes wrong. When you think of it, racecar drivers are kind of dumb. They don’t think about anything going wrong. When it does, it’s like, ‘Oh crap, this is going to be big!’ This isn’t the best place to have an accident, but we are just focused on winning the pole. It’s a real accomplishment if you can do it.”

What do you anticipate to see during the race weekend in Atlanta?

“You’ll see more sides scrubbed off the cars at Atlanta than you’ll see all year long because drivers are searching for grip. If there’s no grip on the bottom or not a lot in the middle, drivers will go up towards the top. That’s why things can get crazy in Atlanta and probably why you see so many different winners. It’s because drivers have a bunch of options. Drivers can get their car working on the bottom, the middle and up top.

“Atlanta is a place where pit road can get tricky too. I think that’s because the track is so racy that drivers continue that aggressiveness on pit road. You are side-by-side and even three-wide racing at times out on the track so when you get on pit road, you’ve got that same mentality too. It’s all about getting as many spots as you can.

“Engines may be a part of the story in Atlanta. We saw a lot of problems in Las Vegas this past weekend. Another thing I like about Atlanta is how important track position and tires are. If you are running first or second with 10 laps to go, you’ll never pit. But if you are running seventh or eighth and you can get four fresh tires, you’ll take the gamble on track position and go for the tires. It sure worked for Jimmie Johnson last year and I think you’ll see more of the same this weekend.”