NASCAR got here and went in Atlanta this weekend for the Ambetter Well being 400. Actually, the race was thrilling and entertaining however muddied by controversy. #20 Christopher Bell emerged victorious however not earlier than a warning flag ended the race on the final lap. It robbed followers of one more three-wide end. This time with Bell, the #77 of Carson Hocevar, and #5 Kyle Larson. However we’ll get into the controversy on SpeedGeeks this week. This piece is strictly highlighting six issues. Three drivers who rose to the second, and people who fell on the facility rankings. Right here’s this week’s “Three Up, Three Down” after the Ambetter Well being 400.
Three Up
#21 Josh Berry
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Berry in his second race with the Wooden Brothers had an ideal day. The end wasn’t consultant of how nice of a day the #21 had. Successful the primary stage and main 56 laps. P25 was not the end the automobile deserved, however this must be an indication of nice issues to come back for Berry within the #21. We’ll see how he holds up at COTA this weekend, after which get into the extra conventional tracks of Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Homestead down the stretch. However, the Wooden Brothers Mustang won’t have to attend so lengthy for win #101 if issues sustain.
#71 Michael McDowell
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After an early difficulty with energy steering, it appeared that Michael McDowell’s day was over. He went again to the storage, made repairs, and got here again out six laps down. In every other race, that most likely places you thus far behind you’re simply making laps and doing what you possibly can. However McDowell battled again, amassing the fortunate canine place six occasions and getting again on the lead lap. He would up with a P13 end after what gave the impression to be an early finish. A fantastic exhibiting for McDowell and Spire Motorsports as a complete. McDowell has some highway course prowess and can have the ability to showcase that in Austin subsequent week.
#77 Carson Hocevar
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For these of you who wager on Carson Hocevar taking a serious step ahead in his second season within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, it’s definitely paying dividends thus far. He was the speak of the city this weekend in Atlanta. Driving very aggressively, making strikes, and amassing a runner-up end within the second race of the yr. He additionally collected P9 and P7 respectively within the first two levels. He’s ruffled some feathers after this occasion. Huge-time veterans just like the aforementioned Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch complained on the radio of his aggressive “don’t give a rattling” perspective, and pictured Ross Chastain having a dialog with him post-race.
There’s an excellent probability he’ll should be taught the laborious approach, as Chastain did. However thus far so good for the 22-year-old. The #77 has taken a serious step ahead two races in and may have some buzz headed into subsequent weekend.
Three Down
#6 Brad Keselowski
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Brad Keselowski is named one of many higher plate racers within the NASCAR Cup Sequence at present. However the 2025 season opened with two of these races, and Keselowski hasn’t shined. One wreck, a complete of 21 factors. It simply wasn’t all that promising of a begin for the driver-owner of RFK Racing. It’s an extended season and Brad’s ok to compete all season lengthy, however all of us imagined Keselowski having a greater begin to the yr than this. Getting caught up in Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse’s mess wasn’t all his fault. However it’s simply disheartening to see.
#19 Chase Briscoe (Principally the #19 group)
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The post-Daytona penalty for the modified spoiler on the #19 group has put them in a large gap. After kicking off the season with a P4 end, the penalty knocked them to a -67 deficit on season factors. In Atlanta, Briscoe certified P25 and ended up with a P21 end, netting 16 factors all in all. Now at -51 on the yr. He’s on the down not as a result of he couldn’t make all of it up in a single race. That’s unfair. However I didn’t get to the touch on the penalty, and the race from him wasn’t all that particular to start with. The primary breath of the post-Truex period for this #19 group has been nothing wanting typical, to say the least.
#99 Daniel Suarez
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The wreck wasn’t essentially Suarez’s fault. However within the huge image, this might imply severe penalties for him. Atlanta is the one observe the place Suarez has completed within the high 5 greater than as soon as within the next-gen period. It’s laborious to think about one other spot not named Daytona or Talladega the place he’s been as promising on the NASCAR Cup Sequence degree in the previous couple of years. It could possibly be untimely to say this, however this could possibly be the tip of Suarez’s hopes of a playoff berth. It’s an extended season, however statistically, that is gutting for the #99 group.
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