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NASCAR Weather Update for New Hampshire: USA Today 301 halted as rain and lightning move onto track

i2wtcBy No Comments5 Mins Read


No race is more unpredictable than a race against time.

Time was of the essence for NASCAR’s brightest talent on Sunday, and the USA Today 301 promised to be compelling viewing, especially with Cup Series stars Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Michael McDowell in position to capture a pivotal win at Loudon in the final stages.

But hopes of a fiery finish were suddenly dashed as a combination of heavy rain, lightning and the threat of a tornado turned the final frame into a ticking time bomb.

Weather always plays a major role in determining the outcome in Cup Series races, and this weekend was no exception, with the starting grid being determined by postseason standings rather than the drivers’ on-track prowess during qualifying.

In an effort to limit the impact of rain on Sunday’s race, NASCAR decided to reschedule the race to an earlier, weather-friendly start time of 2:06 pm ET. But in the end, it didn’t do much good — at least not when the rain began to flow onto the track.

Sporting News is tracking live weather reports from USA Today 301 in New Hampshire. For the latest news on conditions for Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, watch below.

New Hampshire NASCAR Weather Forecast

6:50pm: The cars are back on the course and lined up under caution. The race is about to get even more exciting!

6:45pm: The engine has been discontinued.

6:28 PM: Bubba Wallace jokes…

6:25 PM: There’s still work to be done: NASCAR officials are trying to siphon away pools of water that have accumulated on the track.

6:20 PM: Will the weather hold up again?

6:15pm: Each team has been instructed to use rain tires.

6:10 PM: The air dryers are returning to the ground, and NASCAR has about two more hours of daylight, but lightning delays mean they won’t be back on the track until 6:24 at the earliest.

6 pm: NASCAR plans to return to the track when the rain starts to subside and attempt to dry out the track.

5:30pm: Ah, it looks like we haven’t seen the worst yet. It’s also good to let you know that there is no lighting on the course so today’s race will most likely finish by sundown at the latest (if the race continues).

5:15pm: There was a lot of confusion about whether NASCAR should have used wet tires before the rain got heavier, perhaps allowing a few more laps to go before ultimately bringing out the red flag.

5:10 PM: The lightning struck within eight miles of the course, resetting the possibility of the race being able to restart.

5:01 PM: The course is currently delayed by severe thunderstorms, and one glance at the radar makes it easy to see why.

5:00pm: The rain is intensifying on the track. Our long national nightmare continues.

4:55 PM: The lightning hasn’t come yet, but it’s coming soon. If lightning strikes New Hampshire, there will be an additional 30 minute delay. It will also take time for the course to dry, but there is a good chance the course won’t be dry until the lightning delay is over.

4:45 PM: Drivers are already heading to their campers or garages and being called back to their campers would cause further delays.

4:40pm: Rain is starting to accumulate on the course. Each car is covered with a rain cover. However, there is something to be aware of.

4:32 PM: Red flag! The red flag was raised as rain began to fall on the track. The storm has not yet hit New Hampshire Motor Speedway. However, the rainfall seems to be an obstacle for the drivers. The use of wet tires may be necessary, but it is unclear whether the drivers will be able to return to the cockpit completely. Stay tuned…

Tyler Reddick is currently the race leader.





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