Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 before the Week 1 Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, September 8, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons went into their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers with respect, paying homage to the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting.
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The players wore Apalachee Wildcats t-shirts on the field during pregame warm-ups.
They also held a moment of silence for math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, and 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo who were killed on September 4. Nine others were injured in the gunfire, according to the GBI.
How to help Apalachee High School shooting victims
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The Falcons’ new quarterback Kirk Cousins said Coach Raheem Morris told the team about the deadly shooting the day it happened.
SEE ALSO: Apalachee High School accused shooter’s mother called the school, Washington Post reports
“It was very sobering,” Cousins said, as reported by Falcons senior reporter Tori McElhaney. “We’re praying for the families affected. The school, the community. It’s a tough deal. Going to go home tonight and hug and kiss my kids.”
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Apalachee High School is about 20 miles away from the Falcons’ Flowery Branch training facility.
Frankie Muniz on why the NASCAR Playoffs bettered the sport overall
Actor Frankie Muniz has dedicated recent years of his life to pursuing a career in auto racing and explains why he loves the current playoff former of NASCAR.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Following 26 regular-season races, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are set to begin Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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Sixteen drivers enter the 10-race playoffs with championship aspirations as the first round kicks off with three very different styles of racing: a superspeedway at Atlanta, a road course race at Watkins Glen International and a short-track race at Bristol Motor Speedway. From there, the bottom four drivers in the playoff standings will be eliminated ahead of the second round.
But before we look too far ahead, we focus on Atlanta.
When the Cup Series raced there this February, it produced one of the most electrifying finishes in recent memory, with Daniel Suarez winning a three-wide battle to the line over Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a photo finish that ranks as the fourth closest in series history. It was Suarez’s only victory this season and just the second of his Cup career, and the Trackhouse Racing star will be looking for a repeat on Sunday.
Here is all the information you need to get ready for the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart:
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What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta start?
The Quaker State 400 starts at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.
What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta on?
USA Network is broadcasting the Quaker State 400 and has a pre-race show beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
The Quaker State 400 can be live streamed on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream on Fubo.
How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
The Quaker State 400 is 260 laps around the 1.54-mile track for a total of 400.4 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) – Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 100 laps; Stage 3: 100 laps.
Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Atlanta?
Daniel Suarez led nine laps before outdueling Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a photo finish to take the checkered flag on Feb. 25, 2024.
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And in last year’s Quaker State 400, William Byron led the final 19 laps before the race was halted due to rain after 185 laps on July 9, 2023.
What are the driver standings heading into the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
Driver
Team
Points
1. Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports
2040
2. Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing
2032
3. Tyler Reddick
23XI Racing
2028
4. William Bryon
Hendrick Motorsports
2022
5. Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
2018
6. Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
2015
7. Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
2014
8. Brad Keselowski
RFK Racing
2008
9. Joey Logano
Team Penske
2007
10. Austin Cindric
Team Penske
2007
11. Daniel Suarez
Trackhouse Racing
2006
12. Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
2005
13. Chase Briscoe
Stewart-Haas Racing
2005
14. Harrison Burton
Wood Brothers Racing
2005
15. Ty Gibbs
Joe Gibbs Racing
2004
16. Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing
2004
What is the lineup for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta?
Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver
1. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
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2. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
3. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
4. (4) Josh Berry, Ford
5. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
6. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
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7. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
8. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
9. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
10. (14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford
11. (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet
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12. (21) Harrison Burton (P), Ford
13. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford
14. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet
15. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
16. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
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17. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
18. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
19. (6) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford
20. (54) Ty Gibbs (P), Toyota
21. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
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22. (19) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota
23. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
24. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
25. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
26. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
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27. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
28. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
29. (51) Justin Haley, Ford
30. (99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet
31. (15) Cody Ware, Ford
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32. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
33. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
34. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet
35. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
36. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
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37. (44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet
38. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released a video Saturday morning not only condemning the Apalachee High School mass shooting, but also criticizing gun laws. He called for requiring firearms to be stored safely and enacting universal background checks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing it close to the vest as to who will start at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Quarterback Russell Wilson missed most of Thursday and Friday’s practices with the same calf strain he’s been dealing with for most of the offseason leaving the door open for Justin Fields to get the start.
However, the gamesmanship continues for head coach Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh as Wilson traveled with the team on Saturday to Atlanta. This just gives Falcons head coach Raheem Morris one more thing to think about in the hours leading up to the start of the game.
Russell Wilson (questionable, calf) is making the trip to Atlanta with the #Steelers, per source.
If we were betting on this one, we expect Fields to get the start. Morris and
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the Falcons probably prepared for him on some level after head coach Mike Tomlin offered up his warning at the start of the week, not knowing he might have been giving the Falcons a leg up on prep.