NASCAR: Could rain play spoiler at Talladega yet again?

By Asher Fair | Jun 22, 2020

Talladega, NASCAR, Cup Series (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Could more rain be on the way to further delay the already postponed GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway?

The 13th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, was scheduled to get underway yesterday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET.

But like many of the races that have been contested so far this season, this race had to be altered due to inclement weather. The first round of rain delayed the start of the race, and the track-drying process was going smoothly until more rain came.

Because Talladega Superspeedway does not have lights, there would not have been enough time to dry the track and then get a full race in before the sun went down, and NASCAR would not start a race with the goal of simply deeming it official (halfway complete or the end of stage two, whichever comes first).

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As a result, the GEICO 500 became the seventh race to be altered due to rain this year, as it was postponed until 3:00 p.m. ET this afternoon. It is set to be broadcast live on Fox.

This marks three consecutive superspeedway races to be pushed back due to rain, including two in a row at the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked oval in Lincoln, Alabama. The playoff race at the track last season was started on Sunday, October 13 but not finished until Monday, October 14 due to rain, and this year’s season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway was started on Sunday, February 16 but not finished until Monday, February 17 for the same reason.

But will today’s race be postponed even further?

According to The Weather Channel, this 188-lap race taking place this afternoon is far from a sure thing. There is a 60% chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms, and a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms this evening.

But because the track does not have lights, night racing is not an option. 5:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. CT, local time) seems to be about the latest a race could get underway and go the full distance.

Then on Tuesday, there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms throughout the day and into the evening. Wednesday’s forecast is similar, with an 80% chance throughout the day and a 60% chance throughout the evening. Thursday’s forecast features a 50% chance throughout the day.

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NASCAR can hardly afford yet another change to the Talladega Superspeedway race schedule, given the fact that the sport is set to make the long trek north to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania for a packed weekend which includes the first ever Cup Series doubleheader on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.

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