This summer Atlanta Motor Speedway will host a Saturday night NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time in its 65 year history in what promises to be an exhilarating combination of high-speed thrills and night racing excitement.

The June 28 running of the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart will be the latest chapter of racing under the lights at AMS, all of which has previously been confined to Sundays for NASCAR’s top series. Here’s a look at some of the most notable night racing moments at AMS over the years.

1998: Record setting finale

Just in time for the 1998 season finale, AMS installed more than 1,000 lights around its 1.54-mile speedway. This proved to be a very timely addition; the Nov. 8, 1998 event was originally scheduled to run during daylight hours, but inclement weather delayed the race several times well into the evening.

Thanks to the newly installed lighting system, NASCAR was able to resume the race and complete enough laps to make the race official that night. When the checkered flag waived, Jeff Gordon capped off his third championship season with the 13th win of his 1998 campaign, tying the record for most wins in a single season in NASCAR’s modern era.

2009: Atlanta’s first night race

For the first time in its nearly 50 year history to that point, a NASCAR Cup Series race was scheduled to run at night at AMS during Labor Day weekend in 2009.

On the final restart with 11 laps remaining, Kasey Kahne rocketed past Kevin Harvick and never looked back, taking the checkered flag in Atlanta’s first scheduled night race on Sept. 6, 2009.

2012: Overtime shootout under the lights

A late caution set up an overtime finish on Sept. 2, 2012. During the final caution, Denny Hamlin’s pit crew vaulted him from third to the top spot for the two lap dash to the finish.

Hamlin nailed the final restart to surge ahead of Martin Truex Jr. and held off a charge from Jeff Gordon in the final set of turns to score his first, and so far only, win at AMS.

2014: Kahne punches his playoff ticket in double overtime

Kasey Kahne entered the penultimate race of NASCAR’s regular season in 2014 on the outside looking in for that year’s playoffs. Only a win in one of the final two races would guarantee him an opportunity to race for the championship.

With two laps remaining in regulation, Kahne was in the top spot and on his way to that much-needed victory. However a caution triggered overtime, and Kahne fell back to 5th after the final round of pit stops; victory appeared to be slipping from his grasp.

Fortune swung back in Kahne’s favor on the first overtime restart, with a good launch on the bottom lane that propelled him to 3rd before another caution that set up double overtime. Kahne seized the opportunity, shoving his way up the middle on the final restart to dispatch Denny Hamlin and get alongside leader Matt Kenseth for the race win. The pair sparred all the way to the white flag, with a wiggle by Kenseth off the final corner allowing Kahne to secure the top spot and ultimately a clutch, playoff-berth earning victory in thrilling fashion.

2023: Atlanta’s Night Race returns

After nearly nine years, night racing returned to AMS on July 9, 2023. This installment was the first action under the lights since the racing surface was reconfigured - and night racing action proved to be a coming out party for the 28-degree banked track.

Despite the event concluding 75 laps early due to inclement weather, the action-packed event awed NASCAR fans and legends alike, with Darrell Waltrip lauding it as, “the best (race) I’ve ever seen!” and Dale Earnhardt Jr. dubbing AMS “the hottest ticket” in NASCAR.

William Byron claimed his second career victory at AMS that night, and the entire NASCAR world took notice that Atlanta was now a can’t-miss event.

2025: Saturday night spectacular

After a one year hiatus, Atlanta’s Night Race returns better than ever on Saturday night, June 28.

This year’s running of the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart will be the 123rd NASCAR Cup Series event held at AMS but just the eighth scheduled to run under the lights. Of those eight night races, 2025 will be the first to run on Saturday night, delivering the ultimate night racing experience for fans.

Plus this year’s event will be the opening round of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, with 32 drivers competing head-to-head for a chance to win the $1 million prize.

Tickets and camping accommodations for the June 26-28 Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart NASCAR weekend are available at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.