🌙 Under the Lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Quaker State 400 Weekend | July 2023

The weekend had finally arrived for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This race was going to be a little different for us. We had been to Atlanta Motor Speedway before, but never for a night race. We were really looking forward to it, and it was definitely going to be a lot warmer than the last time we were in Atlanta for a race.

🏁 Xfinity Series Saturday

The race weekend was great from the start. Two of my cousins came up from South Georgia, and we had the weekend all planned out, beginning with the Alsco Uniforms 250 Xfinity race.

We were pulling for the #21 car driven by Austin Hill. The racing was great all night long, and Austin was doing well. With only three laps left, Parker Kligerman spun Austin, ending his chance at a three-peat at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Sometimes racing can be cruel. Three laps can change everything.

🍤 Our First AMS Tailgate

Sunday we got to the track around 12:30 PM and set up what will hopefully become our annual tailgate at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

We got the tent set up, then the grill and chairs. After that, we walked around the Fan Zone and got to see Corey LaJoie signing autographs. Christie and I also got tickets to either Daytona or Las Vegas.

After heading back to the truck, we decided it was time to start cooking.

Tent ✔️
Chairs ✔️
Blackstone ✔️
Friends and family ✔️
Steak and fresh shrimp ✔️

Noel opened the tote and quickly realized he had left the foil and seasoning for the steaks in his truck, which was still parked back at the hotel.

We asked security in reserved parking if we could leave and come back because someone had made a party foul. The security lady was super sweet and allowed us to leave so we could make a backup run to Walmart in Lovejoy.

After getting back to the track, we were ready to cook. Noel brought shrimp that had been in the ocean on Thursday and on the griddle by Sunday. Along with the shrimp, we had steak.

🎶 Pre-Race Moments

After eating, we headed into the track. The pre-race concert featured Andy Grammer, and then came driver introductions.

Before the National Anthem, three skydivers came out of the clouds. One carried a Forever Harvick flag, one carried a Georgia flag, and one carried the American flag.

The Forever Harvick skydiver landed first, then the Georgia flag, and finally the American flag landed during the National Anthem. It was an incredible sight.

🏆 The Kevin Harvick Tribute

The command to start engines was given by Richard Childress, who was sitting in the #29 car that Kevin Harvick drove in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 on March 11, 2001 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

That was the race where Harvick won just weeks after Dale Earnhardt was tragically killed in the Daytona 500.

Richard Childress led the pace laps while Harvick, in the #4 car, pulled up beside him. The two cars drove side by side around the track.

I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye at the track during that moment.

⚡ A Rain-Shortened Finish

The race began, and the drivers battled hard all the way until the end of the rain-shortened race.

Ross Chastain got involved in a wreck on Lap 123, which pretty much ended his day. Daniel Suárez finished second and had a good run most of the night.

Then lightning struck, and Atlanta Motor Speedway asked everyone to leave the stands. As we were heading down, the race was officially called with William Byron as the winner.

This weekend gave us:
🌙 Our first night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
🏁 Xfinity Series racing
🍤 Fresh shrimp and steak on the Blackstone
🤦 A forgotten seasoning party foul
🇺🇸 Skydivers during pre-race
🏆 A powerful Kevin Harvick tribute
⚡ A rain-shortened finish
🚗 Another NASCAR memory with family