The forecast for NASCAR’s race weekend at Atlanta improved enough to let the Quaker State 400 begin, but not enough to let the race run without delay.
The caution flew on Lap 108 of Sunday’s race, which is yet to be restarted, after lightning struck nearby. Heavy rain followed, though NASCAR has begun to send out track drying equipment and seems intent on finishing the race late Sunday evening.
That decision could be spurred by Monday’s forecast for the Hampton, Ga., area, which calls for rain throughout much of the day.
Earlier in the week, the forecast for both Saturday and Sunday looked ominous, though Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race ran without delay.
The Quaker State 400 so far
Polesitter Ryan Blaney won Stage 1 of Sunday’s race, holding off a hard-charging Tyler Reddick. Blaney was the leader at the time of the Lap 108 caution, with Bubba Wallace, Reddick, Christopher Bell and defending Quaker State 400 winner Chase Elliott making up the rest of the top five.
Stage 2 of Sunday’s race was noticeably more intense than the first as teams warned drivers of the impending weather, which could’ve ended the race early if it had reached the halfway mark of Lap 130 before the rain occurred.