Paul Newberry: Are dwindling Cup car counts a cause for concern?

The rules package is designed to create more passing opportunities for drivers and improve the overall on-track product from recent seasons when the dreaded “aero push” has made passing minimal at the front of the field, especially at intermediate tracks such as Atlanta Motor Speedway’s fast, 1.5-mile layout.

“The auto is definitely a lot freer, on top of the racetrack a lot more”, the Roush Fenway Racing driver said. He is starting 26th, but he has a 7.3 average finish in three starts here with Team Penske to go with a pair of top five finishes.

FILE – In this November 8, 1976, file photo, stock vehicle driver David Marcis waves a checkered flag and hold his winner’s trophy after the Dixie 500 in Hampton, Ga. “It’s fun place to come and try to lay down a lap”. He has four total wins in his career at Atlanta.

Kurt Busch: Starts on the pole after brother Kyle failed post-qualifying inspection.

The three-time Atlanta victor has finished fifth and 12th in his last two starts at the track, so he offers a solid blend of consistency and upside.

Defending race champion Jimmie Johnson, one of the most dominate drivers in Sprint Cup racing, says the new low-downforce package will add to the challenge of the race.

Kicking off his 2016 debut, Earnhardt will be driving the Can-Am sponsored No. 32 for Go Fas Racing in the 57th Annual Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Go FAS Racing PR reports. This time, though, Clark believes a myriad of factors at least provide the possibility of a respectable attendance figure when NASCARA’s Sprint Cup series continues to the track this weekend.

At long last we get the low-downforce aero package that created such an entertaining – though caution-laden – product at Darlington Raceway in 2015.

The Cup series’ new low-downforce aerodynamic package is rolled out for the first time. If you’re running in a groove, five or 10 laps later there might not be grip there, so I think you’re going to see that.

“Even with a rules package that the drivers might not love, we still come to Atlanta and the drivers still love racing here”. Carl Edwards will start seventh, the highest spot for a Toyota. After a strong finish to start the season at the Daytona 500, Busch was looking to capitalize on his momentum heading into Atlanta this week.

“We just need to keep taking downforce away”, Edwards said. The six-time pole victor from 2015 was 26th fastest in the first round of knockout qualifying, failing to transfer into the second round by. I thought we were pretty good in race trim. You can dive down in the corner and you’re sliding all over the place. “I mean, this track is just flawless”.

There could not be a better place than Atlanta Motor Speedway for one rookie in particular to shake off the Daytona disappointment and get his season pointed in the right direction.

Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are both intriguing plays, but their ceilings are so high that I’d rather save them for later in the year when I can better determine their best tracks.

Last week, he won the pole at Daytona but a wreck 18 laps into the race knocked him out of contention.

Sprint Cup Car: No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports.

“I want to do well here just as much as I do anywhere else”, he said. It’s been a great racetrack for me. I don’t pick favorites. “I do hope it opens doors for better racing and being around cars a little easier”.