NASCAR'S Camping World Truck Series returning to Atlanta in rare doubleheader

Hampton, Ga. – The last time the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Ty Dillon won the pole, led 40 laps and went on to claim his first ever victory in a national NASCAR touring series race. That was in 2012. Fast forward to 2015, and Dillon will look to defend his title as the Camping World Truck Series returns to the 1.5-mile track for the first time in three seasons on Saturday, Feb. 28.

But before he does that, he’ll attempt to add his second career XFINITY Series victory on the same day, on the same track.

The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series twin bill will be the first scheduled same-day doubleheader involving NASCAR’s national racing series since 2009. It will be a jam-packed day of on-track racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a rare opportunity for NASCAR fans to get twice the racing for their money.

Stay hydrated. That’s probably going to be my main focus,

Ty Dillon

For fans, it’s an opportunity to take in two races with the price of a single ticket. Adult admission for both races starts at just $40, while kids age 17 and under and students with a valid student ID will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

For Dillon, it’s a chance to capitalize on momentum from 2014, in which he had 24 top-10 finishes and a win in his first season driving full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

“I’m in for both of them,” said Dillon, who will run a limited schedule in the Camping World Truck Series for GMS Racing in 2015. “It’s going to be a great day. It’s going to be a long day, but Atlanta is a race track that I love. I got my first win there, and we ran really well there (in the NASCAR XFINITY Series) last year.”

Dillon ran his first ever Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2014 and will look to use that experience to his advantage as he settles in behind the wheel for the 450 miles of the single-day doubleheader.

“Getting that first Cup start at Atlanta, a place that I really love racing, it’s very helpful to me as far as going back this year,” he said. “I have the knowledge of running a 500-mile race there, and when we go back with the XFINITY Series and the Truck Series, I’ll have so much more experience and knowledge of the race track and the speed."

With two races in a matter of hours, preparation will be key for drivers’ success. While outside temperatures won’t be quite as high as last August’s race in Atlanta, the strain of two races in rapid succession can take a toll on a driver both mentally and physically.

“Stay hydrated. That’s probably going to be my main focus,” said Dillon of the necessary preparations for double duty racing. “I’ve been really working out hard this off-season to make sure I’m in shape to run as many races as I plan on running this year.”

The XFINITY Series’ Hisense 250 will kick off NASCAR’s second weekend of racing of the 2015 season in Atlanta with a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Camping World Truck Series will make its Atlanta return for the first time since 2012 under the lights shortly thereafter to cap off a full day of cars on the track that will start with XFINITY Series qualifying just after 9 a.m.

“I’m looking forward the opportunity that we’re going to have and possibly winning two races in one day,” said Dillon, who turns 23 the day before the doubleheader. “So that’s going to be a great weekend.”

Atlanta Motor Speedway