The NASCAR Cup Series returns to an oval track with Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.Last week’s Chicago street race was won by Supercars driver Shane Van Gisbergen in a Trackhouse Racing car on his debut at the end of a rainy weekend. SVG passed Justin Haley in the final laps and withstood a couple late restarts to shock the NASCAR world. But given it was a street race in the rain, two important parts of the equation that most Cup teams and drivers do not have much experience in a live setting, SVG’s upset is simply surprising but not shocking.The series now shifts to Atlanta, a pack racing track that opens up the possibilities for winners on Sunday night. Chase Elliott, the race’s defending champion, is closing in on the outskirts of the wild card playoff picture. But a win will lock him into a playoff spot and relieve some of the building pressure for NASCAR’s star driver. Elliott is currently 55 points behind 16th place Ty Gibbs.In this space each week, we’ll update with the playoff picture from the winners who have clinched a playoff berth to the wild card race.Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s race:NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta scheduleGreen Flag Time:  6 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 9Track:  Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540 mile oval) in Hampton, GeorgiaQualifying:  4:30 p.m. CT qualifying on Saturday (on USA Network)Length:  260 laps, 400 milesStages:  60 laps, 100 laps, 100 lapsTV coverage:  USA NetworkRadio:  PRN (102.5 FM in Nashville)Streaming:  NBC Sports app (subscription required); GoPRN.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)Xfinity Series this week: Alsco Uniforms 250 (163 laps, 251 miles) at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, 7 p.m. CT Saturday on USA NetworkQuaker State 400 starting lineupRow 11. Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford2. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske FordRow 23. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske FordRow 35. Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford6. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing FordRow 47. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRow 59. Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford 10. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske FordRow 611. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford12. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing ToyotaRow 713. Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford14. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRow 815. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford16. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRow 917. Justin Haley, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet18. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRow 1019. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet20. Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Row 1121. Cole Custer, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford22. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletRow 1223. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet24. JJ Yeley, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing FordRow 1325. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet26. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletRow 1427. Ty Dillon, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet28. Corey Lajoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletRow 1529. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet30. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletRow 1631. Noah Gragson, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet32. Austin Hill, No. 62 Beard Motorsports ChevroletRow 1733. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet34. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRow 1835. BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet36. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRow 1937. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing ToyotaNASCAR Cup Series points standings and playoff pictureBefore Atlanta; 8 regular season races remaining; a win clinches a playoff berthClinched playoff berth1: William Byron (3 wins)2. Kyle Busch (3 wins)3. Martin Truex Jr. (2 wins; regular season points leader)4. Kyle Larson (2 wins)5. Ross Chastain (1 win)6. Denny Hamlin (1 win)7. Christopher Bell (1 win)8. Ryan Blaney (1 win)9. Joey Logano (1 win)10. Tyler Reddick (1 win)11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1 win)Wild card pictureCurrently in on points12. Kevin Harvick, +151 points ahead of 17th place13. Chris Buescher, +10414. Brad Keselowski, +9115. Bubba Wallace, +1516. Ty Gibbs, +6Outside looking in17. Daniel Suarez, -6 points behind 16th place18. Michael McDowell, -1019. AJ Allmendinger, -2420. Alex Bowman, -2621. Justin Haley, -4522. Austin Cindric, -4523. Corey Lajoie, -4724. Chase Elliott, -5525. Ryan Preece, -6626. Todd Gilliland, -7927, Aric Almirola, -81
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