Atlanta Motor Speedway has a new name

It’s a new era for the track formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The track, located in Hampton, was renamed EchoPark Speedway in a ceremony at the track Tuesday. The facility has been a part of the NASCAR schedule since the track opened in 1960.

Speedway Motorsports, the longtime owner of the track, and EchoPark Automotive, a subsidiary of Sonic Automotive, reached a seven-year, multimillion-dollar agreement for the speedway to carry the EchoPark name, according to a press release from the speedway. NASCAR legend Bruton Smith is the founder of Speedway Motorsports and Sonic Automotive, both of which are led today by Smith’s sons.

At the beginning, the track was known as Atlanta International Raceway, and it was the site of the NASCAR Cup Series season finale from 1987-2000. One of the more famous races in track history occurred in 1992. That year in the finale, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty competed in his final race, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon made his first Cup Series start, and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott, who is from Dawsonville, won the race but still finished a close second in the Cup Series points standings.

ExploreFlashback Photos: Atlanta race tracks and speedways

Credit: Photo courtesy of EchoPark Speedway

Credit: Photo courtesy of EchoPark Speedway

This year, the track hosted the Ambetter Health 400 Cup Series race Feb. 23, which was won by Christopher Bell. On June 28, EchoPark Speedway will host the Quaker State 400 Cup Series race.

Along with EchoPark Speedway, Speedway Motorsports owns and operates Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, and Texas Motor Speedway.