Good news, bad news for NASCAR Cup drivers ahead of Atlanta weekend

Nine races remain before the playoffs begin, as the NASCAR Cup Series goes to EchoPark Speedway in Hampton , Georgia , this weekend .

Saturday night ’s race has the chance to disrupt the playoff standings.

Four times in the seven races since the track was reconfigured, there have been at least 26 cars involved in a crash in a race.

AJ Allmendinger has an 11.0 average finish at the reconfigured Atlanta track, tied for third among drivers who have made at least three starts at that track.

Kyle Busch has finished in the top 10 in all five races at Atlanta with Richard Childress Racing , his most at a track since moving to the team.

Ryan Blaney has six consecutive top 10s at Atlanta , his longest streak at any track.

Bad news: Shane van Gisbergen ’s 31st-place finish last week at Pocono was his lowest since Bristol in April . Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Josh Berry led a career-high 56 laps at Atlanta in February . Berry ranked second in defense in the Atlanta race, according to Racing Insights . Berry started third at Atlanta and won the opening stage in February . Bad news: Berry has one top-10 finish in the 12 races since his Las Vegas win..