The is a
NASCAR Nextel Cup Stock Car Race held at
Atlanta Motor Speedway in
Hampton , Georgia.
From 1987 until 2001, the race was scheduled as the final race of the NASCAR season, and typically the event in which the champion was decided. Several times, however, the championship was decided prior to this race, or was decided when the points leader simply started the race, clinching enough points simply by finishing last or better.
The 1992 event marked the final race for
Richard Petty , and coincidentally, the debut for
Jeff Gordon . With six drivers eligible for the
Winston Cup Championship, the race is widely regarded as one of the greatest NASCAR races of all time.
Alan Kulwicki , who finished second in the race, edged out
Bill Elliott , the race winner, for the NASCAR Winston Cup title by a then-record margin of only 10 points.
In 2001, the race was scheduled as the season finale, however, it ended up being the second-to-last race. The
New Hampshire 300 was postponed from
September 16 to the Friday after Thanksgiving, due to
9/11 . For 2002, the race was moved to late October in 2002, with the 2003 race being the first with night qualifying, a procedure now standard for both of the circuit's races.
The 1998 race was run mostly at night after a long rain delay; despite the inexperience with the lights, newly installed for an
Indy Racing League race, NASCAR and the teams agreed to attempt finishing the race at night. It was still shortened to 221 laps because of rain.
In 2006, the race start time was changed from 12:40 PM to 2:55 PM in order to finish the race at night. A further start time change is probable for 2007 as the races in Atlanta Motor Speedway, long run during Standard Time, will move to
Daylight Saving Time as a result of the revised Daylight Saving Time standard. For 2007, auto parts dealer
Pep Boys took over title sponsorship of the race.
