NASCAR Atlanta predictions 2025: Expert picks for Cup Series race

The NASCAR Cup Series goes to another drafting track for Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Last week, William Byron emerged from a last-lap crash and repeated as Daytona 500 winner.

Chase Briscoe’s first season at Joe Gibbs Racing already has a cloud over it with a 100-point penalty coming out of last weekend’s race. His path to the playoffs almost certainly will have to include a regular season win.

Here are The Tennessean’s expert picks for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta:

ATLANTA WEEKEND SCHEDULE: NASCAR Atlanta full weekend track schedule, TV schedule for the Ambetter Health 400, other races

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Mike Organ’s pick: Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

After not making much noise last week in the Daytona 500, Elliott will make up for it at Atlanta. He won at his home track Atlanta in 2022 and has the second-best career average finish there of all active drivers at 11.5 over his 12 starts. That includes eight top-10 finishes.

Nick Gray’s pick: Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

My pick came down to the two veteran Trackhouse Racing drivers, and I settled on Ross Chastain over Daniel Suarez. Both drivers have a good history on the Atlanta drafting track, and Chastain is one of the drivers who could use an early-season win for a significantly less stressful summer compared to the last couple years.

Austin Chastain’s pick: Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Nothing like starting the season off with two “wild card” races. Elliott gets a hometown win and they’ll ring the siren at the Dawsonville Pool Hall.

Tom Kreager’s pick: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

Blaney finished second in last year’s Atlanta February race and was third in the September race. His Ford ran toward the front at Daytona last week. That continues in Atlanta.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Atlanta predictions 2025: Expert picks for Cup Series race