NASCAR Races With Smallest Field In More Than 20 Years

NASCAR today has its "smallest Cup field in more than 21 years when 36 cars" took the green flag for the Monster Energy Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR had "not had a 36-car field since" the September '96 race at Martinsville Speedway, where the field was" limited to 36 starters." With the "implementation of the charter system" in '16, NASCAR "guaranteed the 36 charter cars a spot in every Cup race, leaving four races open for non-charter cars." There were no "open" cars entered in Sunday's race. NASCAR "considers a 36-car field a 'full' field" (ESPN.com, 2/24). With rain "forecast for race day," AMS officials yesterday moved the race's start time from 2:00pm ET to 1:00pm, however rain delayed the start until 3:00pm (MYAJC.com, 2/24).