NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Atlanta

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Feb 28, 2016; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) races during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Low Downforce Package

Though many were skeptical of how things would go after two interesting races in 2015, the new low downforce package was a major success for NASCAR this week.

In the past few seasons, races at 1.5-mile tracks got boring at times, with the field spread out and no real threat of a pass. That was not the case on Sunday. The cars were driving well and that led to only three cautions throughout the course of the race, with the first not coming until Lap 210.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave some positive comments on the package after his 2nd-place finish:

"“I loved it. We were sliding around and driving the hell out of the car. I had a blast. Man, it was so much fun. I post old pictures online all the time of the ’80s and ’90s and that’s when racing was racing. That’s when it was good. That’s what they saw today.”"

The long green flag runs, paired with the old pavement at Atlanta, provided viewers with some great driving and an all-around entertaining race to watch.

The first use of the low downforce package was great for NASCAR. It will be interesting to see how drivers fair with it in the future, since most tracks are not as bumpy as AMS.

Next: Less Fans For a Great Race

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