Jul 12, 2026; Hampton, Georgia, USA; Body Armor Flash I.V. driver Ryan Blaney (12), Chumba Casino driver Tyler Reddick (45), HendrickCars.com driver Kyle Larson (5), Hunt Brothers Pizza driver Joey Logano (22) race during the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Ryan Blaney rebounded from late damage to his Ford and secured victory in a three-wide battle at the final turn of the rain-soaked Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga.
The Team Penske driver led a race-high 171 laps before a shunt from Christopher Bell’s No. 20 forced him to relinquish the lead, yet he maintained enough composure to claim his second win of the season and 19th overall in the Cup series.
Bell, Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs, and Erik Jones followed in the top five after Bubba Wallace incurred a penalty for passing below the yellow line, dropping him to 29th.
As rain approached the track near Atlanta, drivers were instructed by their crew chiefs to maintain a high pace during the initial 60-lap Stage 1, with Blaney’s No. 12 Ford setting the fast lap.
Stage 1 proceeded without pit stops until the scheduled break. A caution was issued with Blaney leading every lap, earning him the top bonus points, while Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric completed the top five for Team Penske.
Reddick started pit road first, but Blaney reclaimed the lead in 100-lap Stage 2, which required a mandatory pit stop. However, the 23XI Racing Toyotas of Wallace and Reddick remained in close pursuit at the stage’s midpoint.
A second caution occurred on Lap 108 due to lightning, with Blaney ahead of Wallace, Reddick, Bell, and Chase Elliott. The event was paused for a red-flag period starting near 8:30 p.m. ET, during which drivers exited their vehicles.
Following a three-hour delay, competitors returned to the track, and Blaney resumed his strong performance with optimal grip and handling. Logano and Wallace pressed hard to close the gap after the restart.
The 2023 series champion maintained control in the second stage, fending off Reddick, Logano, Cindric, and Daniel Suarez, while Wallace spun off the frontstretch of Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
With 85 laps remaining, Gibbs, Bell, and Denny Hamlin formed a 1-2-3 for JGR, with Gibbs holding the lead until AJ Allmendinger crashed on Lap 194, triggering the fourth caution.
All drivers pitted on varied strategies, and the key movers were Blaney and Wallace, each climbing eight positions to enter the top 10.
A fifth caution occurred with 29 laps left when Wallace blocked Blaney, causing the Penske Ford to strike the wall.
Larson, winless in 44 consecutive races, triggered the final two cautions in the closing 20 laps to set up the finish.