By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist
August 17, 2018, 6:24:05 PM EDT
This year’s final NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway, nicknamed Thunder Valley, will be threatened by rain and thunderstorms on Saturday night.
Weather played a factor during the first NASCAR weekend in Bristol, Tennessee, in the middle of April. The Food City 500 was delayed multiple times on Sunday, April 15, due to rain, and officials eventually postponed the race to Monday, April 16.
Crews cover their cars as a rain delay is called during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Fans heading to the racetrack this weekend should again prepare for possible delays and postponements. Umbrellas, ponchos and waterproof shoes will be must-haves.
A system separating moist air to the south from drier air to the north will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the Bristol area through the first part of the weekend, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.
The greatest risk of delays will come at the start of weekend as showers and thunderstorms are forecast to be more widespread on Saturday and Saturday evening.
"This will potentially put the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in Bristol in jeopardy on Saturday evening," Adamson said, adding that a lengthy delay or postponement is possible.
On Friday, NASCAR announced that the start time of Saturday's race will be moved up from 7:30 p.m. EDT to 6:30 p.m. EDT due to the potential for inclement weather.
Temperatures will be in the 70s F throughout the evening.
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Fans at the racetrack can keep up to date with when stormy weather is expected to arrive and how long it will last by downloading the free AccuWeather app on their cellphone or tablet.
Adamson expects stormy weather to linger in the area for Sunday in the event that the race is postponed, but coverage will likely be more spotty than at the start of the weekend.
Do you think it'll rain? Make your prediction by clicking on the image above and playing Forecaster Challenge.
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