Critical Path Security 6 Drivers to Watch: Atlanta & Lime Rock

All three of NASCAR’s national series are hitting the track this weekend. However, it will be opposites in terms of the types of tracks that will be featured. For the Cup and Xfinity Series, the newly renamed EchoPark Speedway will be the first track to host each series for a second time. The mile-and-a-half superspeedway will again offer pack racing under the lights. Meanwhile, the Craftsman Truck Series is heading up to the northeast for road racing at Lime Rock Park. The Connecticut road course is hosting a top-3 NASCAR series for the first time in its existence. Between the vastly different tracks, the options for who to keep an eye on this weekend are bountiful. Between Atlanta and Lime Rock Park, here are the Critical Path Security 6 Drivers to Watch.

How will EchoPark Speedway continue to develop? Seemingly, every race on Atlanta’s new configuration offers a bit of a different race. As the track’s surface starts to wear, the draft becomes more difficult to stay together. For the Cup Series, this has allowed for compelling racing. Meanwhile, the Xfinity (and Truck) Series has suffered for it. With an everchanging track, the thought is that one day Atlanta could start to resemble a standard intermediate again. Although it will never fully return to a non-drafting track, the continuous degradation of the surface will force the drivers to let off the gas more. This will lead to the pack spreading out rather than remaining tight together. While this weekend will not be the place for that, there could be foreshadowing of it.

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William Byron

The current points leader will be looking for his third win at EchoPark Speedway. William Byron has somewhat mastered the reconfigured Atlanta. Byron picked up the first win once the track turned into a superspeedway. He followed that up with a win during the rain shortened summer race in 2023. Outside of those wins though, Byron has struggled to put together strong results. Ignoring his 2 wins, Byron only has picked up a single Top-10 in 5 starts. Obviously, the chaotic nature of these Atlanta races can hold back strong cars. However, Hendrick Motorsports has looked noticeable off in recent trips to this track.

Despite being the points leader, William Byron enters the In-Season Challenge as the higher seed compared to his first round opponent (Ryan Preece). Per bracketology, technically it would be an upset if Byron were to beat Preece on Saturday night. As mentioned, it is difficult to give a definitive edge to either driver due to superspeedway racing. Usually though, Byron is less prone to get caught up in a wreck. Meanwhile, Ryan Preece’s X account profile picture is him as an astronaut due to his tendency to fly. Byron should be able to “upset” Preece, but RFK Racing is also strong on the superspeedways. This is one of those match-ups that seem too close to call.

Cole Custer

Cole Custer and the Haas Factory Team are coming off a couple of solid weeks. After picking up his first Top-10 of the season in Mexico, Custer followed it up with a strong qualifying effort at Pocono. Despite finishing outside the Top-20, the 41 demonstrated solid speed throughout the race. With that positive momentum, it is the perfect time for a wild card track. Not only would Custer be playing spoiler for the playoffs, but also for NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge. Would it not be fitting for the first race of NASCAR’s newest event to be won by someone not competing in said event?

If Cole Custer is going to play spoiler, then he will have to buck his history at Atlanta. Through his first 4 starts on the reconfiguration, Custer has 3 finishes outside the Top-30. 2 of those were DNFs, including this year’s spring race. Obviously, that history does not bode well for Custer’s prospects on Saturday night. However, his other result was a Top-10 back in the summer of 2022. Plus, Custer found himself at the front of the field at the end of the Daytona 500. Sure, he might have triggered the race-ending, multi-car wreck, but he still got to the front. Could he pull that off that same feat (minus the wreck) this weekend in Atlanta?

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Aric Almirola

Returning to the 19 car for Friday night’s race is Aric Almirola. This weekend will mark his 7th start on the season and second at EchoPark Speedway. In his earlier EchoPark start, Almirola finished third while controversial not working with Justin Allgaier to dethrone Austin Hill. With Almirola’s skills in the draft, he should be one of the best competitors to Hill’s dominance. Almirola already picked up a win this season at Phoenix. Easily, he could add Atlanta to that mix.

The transition from fulltime Cup driver to Xfinity ringer has been successful Aric Almirola. Through his first 20 starts, he already has picked up 4 wins along with 11 Top-5s. For a driver who was undervalued during his Cup tenure, it is refreshing to watch him find success in NASCAR’s second series. He does not feel out of place piloting the 19 car compared to the Cup drivers who are Busch-whacking occasionally. The same winning expectation is placed on Almirola as those Cup drivers. So far, Almirola has succeeded in living up to the lofty expectations of the team.

Sheldon Creed

To call Sheldon Creed’s 2025 so far a disappointment might be heavy criticism. But it would be fair. While his teammate has been a constant front runner, Creed is slipping down the Xfinity leaderboard. It is not uncommon to see the 00 car battling to keep a Top-10 position against the second tier teams of the series. His 2025 has not been bad, but there is certainly speed lacking there. That said, the disappointing feeling could be wiped away via a win.

Sheldon Creed’s track record at EchoPark Speedway has been shaky. Although a solid superspeedway driver, Atlanta has given the young driver problems. Through 7 starts, Creed only has 1 Top-5 and 2 Top-10s. During his tenure with Richard Childress Racing, he managed to lead laps. Since leaving the Chevy team though, Creed has only managed a single lap led in 3 starts. Something about the configuration of the track does not play well to Creed’s pack racing strengths. If Sam Mayer and Creed can work together in the final stage of the race, they would be a formidable duo. As seen in the spring, it will take 2 drivers committed to each other to outduel Austin Hill. Perhaps the Haas Factory Team teammates could be that tandem.

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Jordan Taylor

The road ringers will be out in full force for the Craftsman Truck Series race this weekend. Among those is Jordan Taylor, who is making his Truck Series debut. This will also be Taylor’s return to NASCAR for the first time since 2023 when he made 3 starts across the Cup and Xfinity Series. Thus far in his brief NASCAR career, Taylor has demonstrated the ability to get speed out of his vehicle. His average starting position is 6.0. However, that speed has not carried over into results. Taylor, much like other road course ringers, struggles to adapt to the style of racing NASCAR offers on road courses. In the Truck Series, that style will only be rougher.

Jordan Taylor will be piloting Spire Motorsports’ 7 truck. In that equipment, he should be able to maintain his strong qualifying record. Potentially, that could help keep the truck clean throughout the running. Another advantage Taylor will have is that Lime Rock is new to every Truck Series driver (minus Layne Riggs). When a new road course is introduced, the veterans of road racing seem to shine more. Winning should not be out of the question for Taylor. If he can qualify upfront and stay out of the chaos in the pack, watch out for Taylor to win the inaugural Truck race at Lime Rock.

Cam Waters

Another road course ringer making the trip to Connecticut is Cam Waters. Making his first NASCAR start of 2025, Waters is in a similar position to Jordan Taylor. Driving for ThorSport, Waters should have the equipment to put down a strong qualifying lap and potentially contend for a good finish. Where Waters might have the edge over Taylor is the Supercars style of racing. Unlike other racing series, Supercars does feature a bit of that rough driving that NASCAR holds dear. While it is not as aggressive as NASCAR, that background should be helpful in handling the potential chaos of the Truck Series.

On the flip side, Waters demonstrated a slower adaption to NASCAR in his lone road course start. Racing for RFK Racing in the Stage 60 entry, Waters struggled early at Sonoma. As the weekend (and race) continued, the Australian driver warmed up to the car and became making progress. A bizarre wreck in Turn 11 ended the day early, but the Supercars veteran looked on his way to a solid finish. Will that happen again this weekend? It would be a benefit for Waters to qualify well to keep out of the mid-pack. If he is unable to start upfront, he could relive the same type of race that occurred at Sonoma.

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