 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
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| NASCAR Cup Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| Corporate sponsor | Quaker State, Walmart |
| First race | July 30, 1960 |
| Distance | 400.4 mi (644.244 km) |
| Laps | 260 Stage 1: 60 Final 2 stages: 100 each |
| Previous names | Atlanta 500 (1960–1980) Coca-Cola 500 (1981–1985) Motorcraft 500 (1986) Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 (1987–1993) Purolator 500 (1994–1996) Primestar 500 (1997–1998) Cracker Barrel 500 (1999) Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 (2000–2001) MBNA America 500 (2002) Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 (2003) Golden Corral 500 (2004–2006) Kobalt Tools 500 (2007–2010) |
The Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race that was run annually each March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia from 1960 to 2010 and as a July race since 2021. The race is one of two races currently held at the Atlanta track every season, with the Ambetter Health 400 being the other and run at various times (originally November, later October and currently the second race of the season as of 2024).
The race was originally 500.5 miles (805.5 km) on the 1.54-mile quad-oval (325 laps). In August 2010, Atlanta Motor Speedway announced that they would no longer run this spring race, instead choosing to focus on the Labor Day weekend race at the track beginning in 2011.[1] The end of the Atlanta 500 was followed by the addition of a race at Kentucky Speedway starting in 2011, primarily due to litigation by Kentucky's former owners and a settlement of that trial.
On September 30, 2020, Speedway Motorsports announced Kentucky would lose its Cup race and the event be moved back to Atlanta, to be held July 11, 2021.[2] The race will only be 260 laps (400.4 miles), owing to Shell's prior sponsorship agreements and the first since 1966 to be held at the track at 400.4 miles (644.4 km). The event was held under the lights in 2023, the opening race of the playoffs race in 2024. 2025 will mark the opening round of the NASCAR in-season tournament.[3]
- ^ "Atlanta Motor Speedway Announces Schedule For 2011 NASCAR Season". www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ "AMS gets second NASCAR weekend in 2021 with races in March and July". Atlanta Motor Speedway (Press release). WGXA. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "NASCAR to run in-season tournament on TNT Sports in 2025". May 13, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.