2022 Quaker State 400
# 2022 Quaker State 400

The 2022 Quaker State 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 10, 2022, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 260 laps on the 1.54-mile-long (2.48 km) asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway (with superspeedway rules), it was the 19th race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

**Entry list**

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Rule Change

On June 14, Bob Pockrass reported NASCAR will use the superspeedway format for Atlanta, with no practice session. Teams will qualify after inspection.

## Qualifying

Qualifying for Saturday was cancelled due to rain and Chase Elliott, the point leader, was awarded the pole as a result.

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 13 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 17 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 18 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 19 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 22 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 29 | 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 33 | 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 60

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 100

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 100

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 60 |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 260 | 45 |
| 3 | 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 260 | 34 |
| 4 | 25 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 33 |
| 5 | 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 260 | 46 |
| 6 | 7 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 260 | 31 |
| 7 | 24 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 260 | 30 |
| 8 | 22 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 260 | 29 |
| 9 | 18 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 260 | 28 |
| 10 | 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 260 | 31 |
| 11 | 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 260 | 26 |
| 12 | 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 260 | 25 |
| 13 | 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 26 |
| 14 | 32 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 260 | 23 |
| 15 | 12 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 260 | 22 |
| 16 | 14 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 260 | 21 |
| 17 | 28 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 260 | 20 |
| 18 | 31 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 260 | 27 |
| 19 | 15 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 260 | 24 |
| 20 | 19 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 260 | 22 |
| 21 | 30 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 17 |
| 22 | 21 | 45 | Kurt Busch | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 259 | 25 |
| 23 | 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 259 | 14 |
| 24 | 36 | 77 | Landon Cassill (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 259 | 0 |
| 25 | 16 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 259 | 15 |
| 26 | 17 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 252 | 11 |
| 27 | 33 | 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 252 | 0 |
| 28 | 23 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 174 | 9 |
| 29 | 4 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 170 | 17 |
| 30 | 13 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 170 | 16 |
| 31 | 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 162 | 6 |
| 32 | 8 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 14 |
| 33 | 11 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 107 | 4 |
| 34 | 29 | 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 91 | 0 |
| 35 | 26 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 2 |
| 36 | 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 77 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 27 among 12 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 13 for 64
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 22 minutes and 18 seconds
* Average speed: 118.754 miles per hour (191.116 km/h)

## Media

### Television

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and 2004 Atlanta winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood served as a “CityView” reporter and share stories from the famed Dawsonville Pool Room and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

USA :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | CityView reporter |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Kim Coon Marty Snider | Rutledge Wood |

### Radio

The race was broadcast on radio by the Performance Racing Network and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front stretch. Doug Turnbull called the race from atop a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2 & Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. On pit road, PRN was manned by Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini.

PRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Doug Turnbull Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Chase Elliott | 684 |
| | 2 | Ryan Blaney | 637 (–47) |
| | 3 | Ross Chastain | 634 (–50) |
| | 4 | Kyle Larson | 579 (–105) |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Busch | 569 (–115) |
| 1 | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 566 (–118) |
| 2 | 7 | Joey Logano | 562 (–122) |
| | 8 | Christopher Bell | 523 (–161) |
| | 9 | Alex Bowman | 508 (–176) |
| | 10 | William Byron | 505 (–179) |
| | 11 | Kevin Harvick | 504 (–180) |
| | 12 | Aric Almirola | 481 (–203) |
| 1 | 13 | Austin Cindric | 465 (–219) |
| 1 | 14 | Tyler Reddick | 458 (–226) |
| 2 | 15 | Daniel Suárez | 451 (–233) |
| 1 | 16 | Kurt Busch | 449 (–235) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 702 |
| 2 | Ford | 640 (–62) |
| 3 | Toyota | 625 (–77) |
