After opening the season at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to EchoPark Speedway for Race No. 2 of the season on Saturday. With ThorSport Racing’s No. 98 truck leading the field to green, the stage is set for another drafting-heavy showdown at the reconfigured 1.54-mile oval, a track that rarely delivers a calm afternoon.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Start Time and TV Channel at Atlanta
The green flag for the Truck Series race is scheduled for 1:52 p.m. ET on FS1, with pre-race coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The event is set for 135 laps, divided into 40, 40, and 55-lap stages.
Teams will have four sets of tires to manage across the afternoon, adding a layer of strategy to what is already one of the most unpredictable tracks on the schedule.
Not to mention, Saturday’s weather forecast could add even more intrigue. Temperatures are expected to sit in the 60s, but there is a 55–60% chance of rain in the area. Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports shared the details on his social media.
While forecasters anticipate likely dry windows, teams and fans alike will be keeping a close eye on the radar in case of delays.
It’s a strong front row to kick things off. Jake Garcia secured the pole position and will lead the field to green, marking a big opportunity for the 20-year-old at a track where clean air can make a difference. Lining up alongside him is former Truck Series champion (2021 and 2023) and ThorSport Racing teammate Ben Rhodes, giving the front row a mix of youth and experience.
Row 2 features a familiar name to fans across all three national series. Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch rolls off third in a Spire Motorsports truck, bringing veteran savvy and superspeedway instincts to the Truck field.
Starting alongside him is Tyler Ankrum, who has shown speed at drafting-style tracks before and could be a factor if he stays in contention late.
There’s also added star power deeper in the field, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. making his second appearance in NCTS. Known for his aggressiveness on superspeedways, the Cup Series regular’s presence adds another wild card to an already volatile race.
Meanwhile, Daytona winner Chandler Smith will have work to do. Smith rolls off from Row 11, meaning he’ll need to navigate traffic early and avoid the kind of mid-pack chaos Atlanta has become known for since its reconfiguration.
EchoPark Speedway’s updated layout has transformed the 1.54-mile oval into a pack-racing battleground, where momentum shifts quickly and one bold move can change everything. With drafting partners constantly forming and dissolving, track position matters.
