Following Tyler Reddick’s win in the Daytona 500 (season opener), the NASCAR Cup Series heads to another drafting-heavy track. Gamblers should expect strong showings from superspeedway specialists like Reddick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, or pack racers like Bubba Wallace/Ryan Blaney. Atlanta’s repave and rules create wild, multi-car battles (often 20+ lead changes). Additionally, the track will force teams to emphasize fuel strategy, tire wear, and avoiding “The Big One.”
The 2026 Autotrader 400 is the second points race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Specifically, it is contested over 260 laps (400.4 miles) on the high-banked, 1.54-mile quad-oval at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) in Hampton, Georgia. This superspeedway-style event uses pack-drafting rules, promising chaotic, high-speed action with potential for big wrecks, multiple leaders, and photo-finish battles. Corelate that the track is typical of Atlanta’s post-repave configuration (28-degree banking in turns).
This early-season race sets the tone for playoff positioning—a strong finish here boosts points and confidence before the West Coast NASCAR betting odds swing. Finally, it’s part of the 2026 Spring NASCAR Weekend at EchoPark, with fan activities such as pre-race concerts (around 1:00 PM on the Fan Stage) and driver intros.
2026 Autotrader 400 Betting Info
| Date and Time: | Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA |
| TV Coverage: | FOX |
Autotrader 400 Odds to Win
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Joey Logano | +1000 |
| Chase Elliott | +1000 |
| William Byron | +1200 |
| Kyle Larson | +1200 |
| Austin Cindric | +1200 |
| Christopher Bell | +1400 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1600 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1800 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1800 |
| All Other Drivers | +2000 or higher |
Gamblers believe that Ryan Blaney & Joey Logano are elite superspeedway online wagering performers. To show, Blaney has recent Atlanta success (strong finishes in pack racing), and Logano thrives in chaos with smart strategy and pushes alliances (Team Penske often groups well).
Wise Guys are looking at Superspeedway king Austin Cindric. He has a strong NASCAR odds Atlanta history of adversity and survival. Team Penske edges in drafting, and Cindric offers plus-money upside if he avoids trouble and rides the pack late.
However, Kyle Larson & Denny Hamlin are seen by Wise Guys as poor values—elite talents, but not always superspeedway specialists. Larson is strong in clean air but vulnerable in big packs. Meanwhile, Hamlin has Atlanta history but recent mixed results.
Bargain Hunters are shopping Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., or Ross Chastain for bigger payouts. To illustrate, Stenhouse excels in restrictor-plate chaos, and Chastain is an aggressive pusher.
2026 Autotrader 400 Top Drivers
Ryan Blaney
Blaney is a premier pack racer who excels in Daytona/Talladega/Atlanta-style events, with a high top-5 rate. Additionally, Team Penske (Blaney, Logano, Cindric) dominates drafting alliances, often grouping up front for pushes and strategy. Blaney has been exceptional on the repaved EchoPark surface with strong average finishes, pole-winning speed, stage wins, and top runs.
Joey Logano
Logano excels in drafting races like Atlanta with a proven high survival rate, smart positioning, and a history of leading laps in packs. Additionally, Logano excels in drafting races like Atlanta—high survival rate, smart positioning, and a history of leading laps in packs.
Austin Cindric
Specifically, Cindric is one of the best in pack racing. He has a high survival and contention rate at Daytona/Talladega/Atlanta. He led laps combined at these tracks in recent seasons and thrives with Penske pushes. Penske trio dominates these events; Cindric often rides and pushes to the front and positions for late surges.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott owns an excellent record at this track with multiple wins since the 2020 repave. Due to his home-track edge, sharps see him as a “value play.” Elliott has had reliable runs and the ability to contend in drafting chaos. He’s won twice at the venue in recent years and thrives on the high-banked surface, whether in clean air or with pushes.
Kyle Larson
Specifically, EchoPark Speedway uses “superspeedway rules,” a style of racing where Larson has historically struggled to finish. He has never won a Cup race on a drafting track and is coming off a 16th-place finish at the season-opening Daytona 500.
2026 Autotrader 400 SBG Best Bets
To conclude, sharps are likely to bet heavily on Team Penske. Namely, Cindric, Blaney, and Logano offer gamblers everything they could want for a good shot at the payout window.
2026 Autotrader SBG Best Bet: Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric to Win.