Atlanta Motor Speedway is the roughest NASCAR track, and it’s not even really close

If you’re wondering about whether or not there’s something to the idea that there’s something to the idea that Atlanta’s surface is different than just about everywhere else that NASCAR races, science suggests that there is.

Someday relatively soon, the racing surface at Atlanta Motor Speedway is going to be repaved. The track was going to do it in 2017 but decided against it after drivers and teams begged them to hold off just a little bit longer.

Generally speaking, NASCAR tracks are always in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation when it comes to repaving. Wait too long and the track literally starts coming apart under the weight and speed of stock cars. But freshly paved asphalt is generally bad for racing, conducive to situations where there’s only one preferred groove and it’s difficult to run fast or pass anywhere else.

Atlanta Motor Speedway hasn’t been repaved since 1997, the same year it was changed from a pure oval to its current quad-oval layout. That means it’s been taking a beating for 20 years, but also that the racing surface is rougher and, hypothetically, at least, one that places a higher emphasis on driver skill since the cars move around more and don’t have as much grip. Repaved tracks have a tendency to allow race cars to stick right to the bottom of the track, leading to what Jimmie Johnson once called “a parade out there at 200 mph.”

But is Atlanta really that different from everywhere else NASCAR visits? Right now, yes. As proof, we direct you to a fascinating piece on NASCAR.com that explains exactly how NASCAR measures the roughness of racing surfaces. There’s a lot of technical information in the article, but the TL;DR version is that a team uses 3D-imaging across three grooves at eight areas around every track and measures the variations between the highest and lowest points in the asphalt or concrete.

As you can see in the graph in that piece, concrete or hybrid tracks like Martinsville, Dover and Bristol have the smoothest surfaces, about eight tracks are right in the middle, and places like Charlotte, Sonoma and Richmond are on the rougher side. Atlanta Motor Speedway? It’s way off by itself on the far right of the chart, much rougher than second-place Homestead.

Next: See the Cup Series entry list for Atlanta

So the difference between Atlanta and other tracks is quite real, and when you consider that it’s also one of the fastest tracks NASCAR uses, the variables that the surface throws into the mix are important for keeping the racing as interesting as possible (just don’t tell that to the tire guys). There’s very little question that the repave is really going to happen this time, as no one wants to wait until it breaks up during a race. Just remember during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 to appreciate how unique the track really is, because it might be a while until you see another one that’s quite as rough.