Rain Washes Out NASCAR Qualifying at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2:16 PM

Stormy weather conditions forced officials to cancel Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Atlanta's EchoPark Speedway. Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick will now claim the pole position for Sunday's Autotrader 400 race.

Stormy conditions in the Atlanta area led to the scrapping of Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at EchoPark Speedway.

Since time trials were called off, Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick will claim the top starting position for Sunday’s Autotrader 400 race.

Reddick, driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, will share the front row with Joey Logano, who pilots the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

Persistent rainfall during the late morning hours, combined with dangerous lightning activity, resulted in the track’s first Cup Series qualifying cancellation in 16 years, dating back to 2008.

Despite the weather disruption, both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at 1:30 p.m. ET and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 5 p.m. ET remain on Saturday’s schedule.

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