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What are NASCAR’s stage lengths at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

By Phil Naegely

Feb 28, 2016; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions before the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions before the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Motor Speedway is the first intermediate track to feature stage lengths this year. How long are the stage lengths for this weekend’s races?

NASCAR fans saw stage lengths implemented in races for the first time last week at Daytona. Each race at Daytona International Speedway was filled with crashes but stage lengths also factored into the race strategies. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, the infusion of stages will affect how teams prepare for the races.

At Daytona many cars pitted during the caution flag before Stage 2 and the final stage. However, with Atlanta being a shorter track, drivers may not want to pit as it could leave them too far back. This could lead to more green flag pit stops. As a result, this could at yet another wrinkle to the race. More drivers could be running on worn tires and trying to conserve gas as much as possible during the race.

The stage lengths for all three series are below. This is one of the few tracks that hosts the top three circuits during the same weekend and is the last Truck Series race for a few weeks. The information below is provided by NASCAR.

"Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (Race is Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX)Stage 1: Ends on Lap 85Stage 2: Ends on Lap 170Final Stage: Scheduled to end on Lap 325XFINITY Series (Race is Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, FS1)Stage 1: Ends on Lap 40Stage 2: Ends on Lap 80Final Stage: Scheduled to end on Lap 163Camping World Truck Series (Race is Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FS1)Stage 1: Ends on Lap 40Stage 2: Ends on Lap 80Final Stage: Scheduled to end on Lap 130"

The Truck Series and XFINITY Series each have 40-lap stages for the first two stages. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will drive 85 laps during Stage 1 and Stage 2 before running 155 laps in the final stage.

Next: Where and when to watch NASCAR this weekend from Atlanta

NASCAR has overtime policies in place if the race doesn’t finish under a green flag during the scheduled end lap. Despite all the wrecks at Daytona, all of the races finished as planned.

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