Todd Gilliland (34) fights for position going into turn one at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jason Allen-Imagn Images

Watch: Front-runner blows tire in NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Feb 23, 2025 5:12 PM ET

One of the dominant cars in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is likely out of the running for the race win.

Todd Gilliland started fifth in Sunday's race and ran up front during the first half of the race. Gilliland finished seventh in Stage 1 and was running inside the top five when Gilliland's right rear tire went down, forcing the 24-year-old to make an unscheduled pit stop. The yellow flag was thrown for debris as a result of the flat tire.

The tire didn't have to be so dramatic about it ... https://t.co/JxS7771sq3 pic.twitter.com/n6HJ03hqzJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 23, 2025

Gilliland led 58 laps at Atlanta in February of 2024 and was one of the underdogs to watch in Sunday's race. He only went one lap down and should have the opportunity to get his lap back at the next caution flag.

Josh Berry won Stage 1 of the Ambetter Health 400.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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