By Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer
September 09, 2018, 2:41:35 PM EDT
After heavy rain postponed the NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, lingering showers postponed the Brickyard 400 to Monday afternoon.
The green flag for the Brickyard 400 was scheduled to wave at 1 p.m. EDT with gates opening for fans at 10 a.m. EDT. Originally, the race was set to start at 2 p.m. EDT but it was moved up one hour due to the threat of inclement weather, according to NASCAR.
All events scheduled at the track on Saturday were canceled or postponed due to rain. The Xfinity race, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, is now set to start at 10 a.m. EDT Monday. The Cup race will start at 2 p.m. EDT Monday.
Track official directs Kyle Busch, left, and other drivers off the track during a rain shower that stopped a NASCAR auto racing practice. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
While the heaviest rain has exited the area, showers can linger on Sunday, mainly during the first half of the day. Drier conditions are expected to move in later in the afternoon.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said that if there is any moisture on the track, the event will most likely be delayed for safety. As the Brickyard is not a road course, rain tires couldn’t be utilized.
Still not 100% sure they can get a race in or will be delayed @IMS . The radar now is spotty rain, and should continue most of the day like this. There is a 40% chance of some racing and a 20% chance of an official race. I wish I had better news! @bobpockrass
“On a track like that, with not much wind, it could take several hours to really get the track dry enough to race.”
The Brickyard 400 is the final race of the NASCAR regular season before the playoffs begin next weekend in Las Vegas. The 400-mile race will determine the 16 drivers who advance to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
In August, heavy rains forced a delay of a NASCAR Cup Series race in Bristol. After completing 204 laps on Sunday, officials were forced to push the rest of the race until the next day because of heavy, steady rain.
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Rain delays also pushed back the start times of the race at Michigan International Speedway in June and the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
While this hasn’t been the worst year for weather impacts on the NASCAR season, Reppert said that this summer’s storms have definitely played a big role.
“A lot of weeks this season, there’s been some storm around,” he said. “There has definitely been more of having to keep an eye out this year.”
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