Sam Mayer secured the pole for the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway on Saturday, setting an early pace for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. This marks the second race weekend of the young season, with many drivers eager to gain momentum on one of NASCAR’s smallest drafting tracks.
Race Schedule and Event Details at Atlanta
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will begin its 163-lap contest on Saturday at 5 pm ET, televised on CW. Preceding this, the Craftsman Truck Series race is slated for 1:30 pm ET on FS1, while the weekend concludes with the Cup Series event on Sunday at 3 pm ET on Fox. EchoPark Speedway’s tight layout presents unique challenges for drivers aiming to capitalize early in the season.
Complete Starting Lineup for the Bennett Transportation 250
Sam Mayer leads the field alongside Carson Kvapil in the front row. The top ten starters include Taylor Gray and Sheldon Creed in row two, followed by William Sawalich and Rajah Caruth in row three. The lineup continues with Gio Ruggiero and Sammy Smith, Corey Day and Jesse Love, and Justin Allgaier with Ryan Sieg filling out rows four through six.
The full starting grid is as follows:
- Sam Mayer | Carson Kvapil
- Taylor Gray | Sheldon Creed
- William Sawalich | Rajah Caruth
- Gio Ruggiero | Sammy Smith
- Corey Day | Jesse Love
- Justin Allgaier | Ryan Sieg
- Harrison Burton | Patrick Staropoli
- Brandon Jones | Joey Gase
- Dean Thompson | Kyle Sieg
- Mason Maggio | Austin Hill
- Josh Williams | Blaine Perkins
- Parker Retzlaff | Anthony Alfredo
- Jeb Burton | Ryan Ellis
- Luke Fenhaus | Nick Sanchez
- Garrett Smithley | Ross Chastain
- Austin Green | Jeremy Clements
- Brennan Poole | Lavar Scott
- Josh Bilicki | Cody Ware
- Chad Finchum | Nick Leitz
- Dawson Cram – DNQ
Season Outlook and Early Standings After Week Two
As the NASCAR season progresses just outside Atlanta, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series approaches its second race of the year, among a total of 33 scheduled events. Austin Hill currently holds the points lead following a victory at Daytona, showcasing his strength on drafting tracks. Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil trail closely behind, having secured valuable points to maintain competitive positions early in the campaign.
Meanwhile, several drivers hope to improve their rankings after slower starts, preparing to contend more fiercely in upcoming races. This early portion of the season is pivotal for shaping the battle for the championship.
Recent Changes in NASCAR Playoff Format and Championship Pursuit
With the elimination of the playoff bracket and cut races system, NASCAR has transitioned to a Chase format for this season. In the Craftsman Truck Series, 12 drivers will compete from Race 25 onward for the championship, intensifying the competition in the latter part of the season. This new approach impacts driver strategies as they navigate the schedule and chase consistent results across the remaining events.
NASCAR O'Reilly Atlanta starting lineup pic.twitter.com/329ZCSGrZj
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 20, 2026
