NASCAR and officials from Atlanta Motor Speedway are exploring the possibility of the 1.54-mile speedway in Hampton, Ga., hosting a NASCAR Truck series race in 2004, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The series currently runs two races a season at Texas Motor Speedway and one at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., both similiar tracks to Atlanta and owned by the same company, Speedway Motorsports Inc. The Atlanta race would likely be held in conjunction with one of its two Winston Cup weekends next season. The dates for next season’s races at Atlanta are March 14 and Oct. 31.(Thatsracin.com)(8-1-2003)
UPDATE: Dodge drivers Bobby Hamilton and Chad Chaffin tested their NASCAR Truck series entries at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week. The track is expected to be added to the series 2004 schedule. “That track is fast and tough,” Hamilton said. “It’s different driving the trucks there because they are so rough. A Winston Cup car drives smooth around that track, and really fast. If they ever got a race there, it would be a good one, though. The trucks put on a good show in Charlotte; Atlanta would be similar.” Rick Crawford also had planned to test his new 2004 model Ford at the track last week, but engine problems prevented his team from getting much done.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-30-2003)
UPDATE 2: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the speedway has added a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race to its 2004 event schedule. The inaugural 200-mile event will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2004, as part of the Golden Corral 500 weekend. “We thought long and hard about how we could beef up our spring race schedule, and what kind of event the fans really wanted to see,” said Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark. “What really convinced me is that the fans have been asking us to run a truck race for years. And after watching them test here many times, and watching a bunch of great truck races, I agree with them that this will be a great, close race with tons of action for the fans.” The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series already races at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s sister tracks, Texas Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and many truck drivers have expressed interest in racing at Atlanta as they have tested at the high-banked track over the years. Atlanta Motor Speedway will kick off its 2004 season with the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend. Great seats are available for all three days of racing action through the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211(AMS PR)(9-2-2003)
