Atlanta, GA
Denny Hamlin questions if NASCAR can learn from Atlanta to fix racing at Daytona, Talladega
Denny Hamlin spelled out his issues with the current on-track product at Daytona and Talladega during last week’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast.
Six days later, Hamlin competed in the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta, which has become a drafting track of its own over the last few years. The race was widely praised by fans, and even Hamlin himself. Hamlin said on Monday’s podcast that the harder tires Goodyear brought to Atlanta contributed to the racing that took place. Hamlin pondered if a similar tire change at Daytona and Talladega could help improve superspeedway racing.
“The tire we run at Atlanta is somewhere in the range of 20% harder than any tire we run on an intermediate track. So, it’s a very hard tire,” Hamlin said. “If Goodyear or NASCAR see that we start stringing out a little bit, maybe they add some grip to the tire to bunch us all back up and then we reset the clock. But with this tire being really hard, it doesn’t really wear out. But it still new tires you can tell that it plays a little bit of a factor.
“I’m wondering, though, is that something we can do at Daytona or Talladega to like — maybe we soften the tire or harden the tire, I’m not sure which one. There was a lot of discussion over the week of what do we do to fix the drafting tracks. I think from an entertainment standpoint, it probably can’t get a lot better. I acknowledge that, I’m just trying to make it to where there’s a balance there of entertainment and a balance of sport where the drivers that are the superstars can feel like they have a legit changing of the outcome based on decisions they make.”
Denny Hamlin pleased with racing at Atlanta
Sunday’s race was a thrill ride from start to finish and showed the kind of racing a drafting track can produce in 2025. For Hamlin, the same couldn’t be said about the Daytona 500.
“I feel like the Daytona 500 is a microcosm of the sport in general as to how we crown our champion now as well,” Hamlin said last week. “It started with the competition group a decade ago when we took away horsepower because we wanted to look good on TV, we wanted you to think they can pass, but not that they can actually pass. For me, it’s gotten to the place where the entertainment of it has far taken over the sport of it. And I don’t know how to reverse things.”
Hamlin clearly wants a happy medium between entertainment and sport. Whether that is possible at Daytona and Talladega in the Next Gen car is the question.
But at Atlanta, entertainment and sport blended quite well together.
“If you talked to most drivers they would say, ‘Man, this is how superspeedway racing used to be.’ … I think that we’re still probably a couple years away from the prime of what Atlanta could be. It’s still got a little bit maturity to go in the pavement,” Hamlin said. “But it’s getting there pretty quickly, and we’ve seen fantastic races there over the last few years. So, a great show for the fans. I thought it put on a good race from my standpoint.”
Atlanta, GA
Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles
A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.
Atlanta, GA
Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown
Photo by Luke Beard
When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.
“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.
Photo by Luke Beard
Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.
A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.
Photo by Luke Beard
Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.
“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.
Photo by Luke Beard
One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.
A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.
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Atlanta, GA
Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels
ATLANTA – A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm.
What we know:
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South.
According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.
The entire building was evacuated as a precaution.
One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.
Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.
Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.
What we don’t know:
It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation.
The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.
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