Ryan Blaney Declares Atlanta “Have More Fun Races” Than Talladega and Daytona

2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney has some bold opinion and prediction about Atlanta Motor Speedway after this Sunday’s race.

Ryan Blaney Declares Atlanta “Have More Fun Races” Than Talladega and Daytona

Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

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In 2021, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, now renamed EchoPark Speedway, underwent massive redevelopment and reconfiguration. More banking was added to the venue, along with making the corners narrower, eventually making it a mini-superspeedway. As per 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney it’s better than the traditional superspeedways.

At the moment, almost everyone in the NASCAR community agrees with the claims that Atlanta hosts the best races of the current schedule regardless of the big wrecks it features. This has to do with the fact that it isn’t easy to lead races at the track, not just because there is possibility of incidents, but the fact that the handling is tough on the corners for the leading cars, giving everyone in the top-5 a shot at win in the end. 

Throughout the race and especially towards the end, the leader couldn’t hold position. That place is just getting that way. The runs have always been big there, but I feel like it’s even more so now, because you handle worse in the corner, so it spreads a little bit more and that makes the runs that much bigger. So, the leader gets away.

Ryan Blaney said via Door Bumper Clear podcast.

Further talking about this factor, Ryan Blaney pointed out that multiple drivers spin out on their own owing to how tough it’s to race in the dirt air at the track. All these factor makes it more competitive and more challenging event for the drivers as well as the fans. This inspired the Team Penske driver to call AMS a better track that traditional giants Talladega and Daytona.

It’s getting to where it’s a handful. I mean, you saw multiple guys spin out on their own the other night. [Christopher] Bell spun out in that wreck, just trying to get clean air and he got offset and he just spun out. There was a lot of other guys that just lost it. Everyone had their handful. It’s becoming a pretty fun race. I’d say I have more fun at Atlanta, speedway racing, than Talladega and Daytona.

Ryan Blaney added.

Ryan Blaney prefers the old Atlanta track

But despite all these positives about the track, Ryan Blaney like some of his racing compatriots isn’t a fan of the new track as the likes the old one better. It offers more space for the drivers to make moves unlike nowadays in the Next-Gen era. But the fans didn’t like these races, as it wasn’t as exciting as they wanted it to be.

Ryan Blaney (via Imagn)
Ryan Blaney (via Imago)

Like you said, it’s entertaining to watch. I think any racer will say, I like the old Atlanta, from a racer standpoint. Fans didn’t like it because, ‘Oh it gets strung out and yada yada,’ and stuff like that. And Atlanta, now it’s just more packed up and stuff.

Ryan Blaney said.

Now it is more of spectacle and entertaining races for the fans in attendances as well as the fans watching it on TV. But for Blaney it isn’t more than a pandemonium of chaos, with the two big ones from last weeks Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart being the perfect example. Hence, he prefers that good old days of Atlanta.

But yeah, it’s a spectacle, that’s for sure. Is it like an amazing racer’s race? No, like it’s just pandemonium, chaos. There is fun moments, but, yeah, I prefer the old one.

Ryan Blaney added.

Regardless of the drivers’ feelings being valid, the changes to Atlanta were necessary to keep one of NASCAR biggest market and Chase Elliott home track elite. The track at the moment has huge potential ad it would be interesting to see how long it would take the race to eventually overtake the traditional tracks to become the best road course.

Also Read: Kevin Harvick Urges NASCAR to Replace Chicago Street Race with Forgotten Iconic Venue