Atlanta Qualifying in fall at night: The fastest qualifying session on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit just got more exciting, as Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the Oct. 25 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Day session will be held at night under the lights. Joining the evening’s lineup will also be a 150-lap Goody’s Dash Series race, held on the speedway’s front stretch quarter-mile track. Georgia-Pacific Qualifying is traditionally the fastest qualifying session of the year for NASCAR Winston Cup drivers, who are gunning each year for the track record of 197.478 mph, set by Geoffrey Bodine in 1997. The new qualifying format will be part of a NAPA 500 weekend that has already undergone major changes since last season. The NAPA 500 was moved from its November date to Oct. 27, and the Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race on Oct. 26 has taken the place of the traditional fall ARCA race.(AMS PR)(12-14-2001)
