Asterisk Mark Report – Atlanta #1 2024

Denny Hamlin – Atlanta has been anything but incident free for Denny Hamlin and in 4 of the 5 races on the new surface, he’s either spun or crashed while running in the top 6. This spring, Hamlin literally had three problems while running in the top 6. Hamlin spun into the grass on lap 52 while running in 6th, was involved in a wreck on lap 159 while running in 6th and then near the end on lap 239 while running in 4th, he was involved in another accident, which led to his asterisk mark 23rd.

Brad Keselowski – Brad Keselowski had a hot rod this spring at Atlanta and was a top five contender but he finished an asterisk mark 33rd. In the race, Keselowski finished 7th in Stage #2, ran a lot of the last Stage in the top five but then on lap 219 while running in 3rd, he got loose and got into the wall hard.

Joey Logano – Joey Logano was one of the best this spring at Atlanta but he finished an asterisk mark 28th. In the race, Logano led 27 laps, was running in 2nd on lap 155 but then shortly after that on lap 159 while running in 4th, he crashed after doing a bad block. If Logano’s race would’ve been incident free, I have no doubt he was going to be a factor to win.

Todd Gilliland – Todd Gilliland was one of the best this spring at Atlanta but he finished an asterisk mark 26th. In the race, Gilliland finished 10th in Stage #1, finished 6th in Stage #2, led a race high 58 laps, had an 8.5 average running position, was in 9th on lap 239 but then shortly after that following a caution, Gilliland made an unexpected pit stop for some sort of issue which dropped him off the lead lap, dooming him to his poor finish.

William Byron – William Byron is the only 2-time winner at Atlanta on the new surface and he looked strong once again this spring but finished an asterisk mark 17th. In the race, Byron finished 9th in Stage #1 but then in Stage #2 on lap 134, Michael McDowell wrecked him coming to pit road. “Performance Wise”, Byron was a clear-cut top ten performer prior to his problem.

Chase Elliott – Chase Elliott finished 15th this spring at Atlanta but I have no doubt he was better than his result. In the race, Elliott was involved in three accidents! The first “Big One”, one in the middle and then the last late caution. On lap 245 just before he was involved in his last accident, Elliott was running in 10th.

Chase Briscoe – Chase Briscoe finished 31st this spring but you can get out an asterisk mark for that misleading result. In the race, Briscoe finished 9th in Stage #2, ran well for much of the final Stage but then on lap 239 while running in 4th, he wrecked off the nose of the #11 which led to his poor result.

Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson looked to be one of the best this spring at Atlanta but he finished an asterisk mark 32nd. In the race, Larson finished 4th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, earned the 7th best Driver Rating, led 17 laps but then in the final Stage on lap 219, Larson was caught up in a multi-car wreck. On lap 216 just prior to that, Larson was running in 6th.

Josh Berry – Josh Berry looked very sporty this spring at Atlanta but finished 29th. On lap 248 while running in 8th he crashed.

Zane Smith – Zane Smith actually looked racy this spring at Atlanta but he finished 35th. On lap 68 he was running in 4th but then just shortly after that on lap 74 when he was still running in the top ten, he scrubbed the wall and bent his toe-link which marked the end of his race.

Austin Dillon – This spring at Atlanta, Austin Dillon caused the lap #2 “Big One” and he finished 22nd. After the “Big One”, Dillon never ran well but continued to log laps, moving forward via attrition.

Tyler Reddick – Tyler Reddick has typically run well at Atlanta but in 4 of the 5 races on the new surface he’s finished between 27th to 30th. This spring he added to that tally with a 30th. On lap #2, Reddick was caught up in the “Big One”, so there’s no real takeaways for his afternoon.

Noah Gragson – This spring, Noah Gragson had a short race and finished 36th. The #10 was caught up in the lap #2 accident, and Gragson’s competitive afternoon was then over until he called it a race before just after Stage #1.

Christopher Bell – This spring at Atlanta, no fantasy lessons were learned from Christopher Bell and he finished 34th. On lap #2 he was caught up in the “Big One” and you could stick a fork in him after that.

Alex Bowman – This spring, no lessons were learned from Alex Bowman, and he finished 27th. On lap #2 he was caught up in the “Big One” and quite damaged. Bowman continued to log laps, but his competitive afternoon was over.

Erik Jones – Erik Jones is another driver who was caught up in the lap #2 “Big One” and he finished 25th. Jones was able to continue logging laps, but his afternoon was doomed from that point.