NASCAR veteran reporter Bob Pockrass recently revealed that the sanctioning body faces a weather dilemma as the Cookout Clash approaches Bowman Gray Stadium. Weather forecasts project 6-10 inches of snow, possibly blanketing the venue on Saturday, after sustained snowfall at the track throughout the buildup to the event. Though the outlook remains fluid, teams have received word that Sunday will be the race day, with postponements rolling to Monday, then Tuesday, and beyond if needed.<\/p>\n
According to NASCAR, the primary concern is not competition in cold temperatures but ensuring the safety of fans and personnel in attendance, though the sanctioning body maintains its machines can handle frigid conditions. Drivers, including Erik Jones, however, remain uncertain about what awaits them.<\/p>\n
Teams and drivers have never competed under such punishing winter elements. Jones addressed the concerns by emphasizing that cold conditions pose challenges even without snow. \u201cNot even taking the snow into account, there\u2019s a lot of challenges with the cold. Number one, our cars don\u2019t run antifreeze, so it\u2019s going to be hard. You\u2019re going to be running the cars a lot. Just to keep them from freezing up during the day\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as like heat and and and components, I don\u2019t know. I mean, rear ends and hubs and everything, it\u2019s extremely cold for a lot of those components. Brakes going from that cold to that hot that quick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of questions. There\u2019s just a lot of unknowns. These parts have been put through these tests for extreme circumstances such as this. But, I don\u2019t know, I\u2019ve ever raced anything near this cold. So, there\u2019s a lot of unknowns, honestly, going into it,\u201d he repeated<\/a>.<\/p>\n Starting the machines and building tire temperature at a tight quarter-mile like Bowman Gray could prove tricky, with slick surfaces causing excessive sliding early in runs.<\/p>\n However, the exhibition format of the race provides breathing room for the drivers. While every driver wants to win, the race carries no championship points, allowing teams some latitude to approach the weekend with a lighter touch if conditions allow competition to proceed.<\/p>\n Winter Storm Fern swept across more than half the nation this past weekend. The Northeast and Midwest bore the brunt, buried beneath one-to-three feet of accumulation. North Carolina caught a few inches, including the Winston-Salem vicinity, leaving Bowman Gray draped in white.<\/p>\n Winter Storm Gianna now threatens to unleash another round starting Friday night through Saturday, with The Weather Channel suggesting the system could intensify into a bomb cyclone. The storm\u2019s trajectory remains fluid and could alter projections before arrival.<\/p>\n Kenny Wallace insists NASCAR will not scrap the Clash at Bowman Gray<\/p>\n