Atlanta Race Preview
DRIVER: Jade Buford / No. 48 Big Machine Spiked Cooler Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Patrick Donahue
TRACK: Atlanta Motor Speedway
RACE: EchoPark 250 (163 laps / 251.02 miles)
DATE: Saturday, March 20, 2021
QUOTES
JADE BUFORD, DRIVER
“I’m really looking forward to Atlanta! I think it could be another track where we’ll be able to run fairly well even with it being another ‘first’ track for me. I’m interested to see what all the bumps feel like, as that could be something that might play right into my driving style. I’ve been studying data, watching film and practicing on the sim, and honestly I’m a bit optimistic about going there and having another good run.”
PATRICK DONAHUE, CREW CHIEF
“I’m proud of how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time as a new team. Our cars have been competitive and we’re improving each and every week. Jade had never raced on an oval until Homestead and he’s been doing great at learning all of these tracks. Every week he gets a little bit more confident and I’ve been pretty happy with what we’ve been able to put together so far.”
NOTES
HEADING TO ATLANTA: While this weekend will be Jade Buford’s first time at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he’s a seasoned vet at a track not too far away. The 33-year-old driver has made several starts at Road Atlanta, most recently in an event in 2019 as part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge – GS. Back in 2015, he posted the fastest lap of the race in the IMSA Sports Car Challenge – Grand Sport event at Road Atlanta on his way to a sixth-place finish.
GET TO KNOW JADE: Outside of racing, Buford is an avid rock climber and has been for the past 10 years. The Nashville, Tenn. native currently spends his free time traveling the country finding new locations to climb. Buford will put those skills to the test when he competes in the upcoming season of the NBC show American Ninja Warrior later this month. This will be his third time competing over the past five seasons on the hit show.
AWARD WINNING VODKA: Big Machine Vodka recently received The Fifty Best’s highest honors for a domestic vodka, taking home the Double Gold Medal. Big Machine’s three-time platinum filtered vodka was one of only two out of 34 American-made non-flavored vodka’s that entered to receive the award. Find out more here.
TUNE IN
TV: FOX Sports 1 at 4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET
RADIO: PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90 at 3:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. ET
