{"id":928954,"date":"2026-10-11T11:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T11:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928954\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T11:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T11:38:20","slug":"will-nascar-charlotte-race-be-delayed-today-after-saturdays-washout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928954\/","title":{"rendered":"Will NASCAR Charlotte Race Be Delayed Today After Saturday’s Washout?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"A\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Will rain delay Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte? Get the latest weather forecast, scheduled start time and updates after Saturday’s washout.<\/p>\n

As of early Sunday morning, the NASCAR Bank of America 400 is still sticking with a 3 p.m. ET start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but remnants of Hurricane Isaias lingering around the region mean that a delay around the start of the race remains a realistic possibility, based on multiple weather forecasts.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s washout already erased practice and qualifying, and Sunday\u2019s wet forecast gives crews a narrow window to dry a saturated 1.5-mile oval before the green flag.<\/p>\n

NASCAR canceled all Saturday on-track activity and moved the postponed O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series Blue Cross NC 300 to 8 p.m. ET Sunday, following the Cup race, according to NASCAR.com<\/a>. The Cup lineup was set by the rule book for the fourth time in six Chase races. NASCAR has announced no delay, and the Cup race remains on USA Network for 3 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service forecast<\/a> reports that the \u201cchance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible,\u201d with heaviest rains wrapping up by 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

Forecasters expect up to four inches of rain across Saturday and Sunday, with scattered showers lingering into late Sunday afternoon as the worst of the storm exits, according to WBTV\u2019s Elissia Wilson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AccuWeather shows thunderstorms hitting the track<\/a> at about 3 p.m., right around start time for the race, raising the possibility of a lightning delay as well as a wet track. Charlotte has lights, so a push into Sunday night remains possible. Monday\u2019s forecast calls for sunshine, a high near 83 degrees and a 10% chance of rain.<\/p>\n

NASCAR\u2019s own official weather forecast calls for at least some rain at start time as well.<\/p>\n

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY RACE WEATHER \u2014 CONCORD, NC<\/p>\n

Sunday, Oct. 11 \u2022 Bank of America 400 \u2022 Green Flag 3 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

CURRENT (as of 2:32 a.m. EDT): Light Rain Shower \u2022 70\u00b0 \u2022 Feels Like 73\u00b0 \u2022 Humidity 99% \u2022 Wind 9 mph SE \u2022 UV Index 0<\/p>\n

Time (ET)
\nConditions
\nTemp
\nFeels Like
\nHumidity
\nWind (mph)<\/p>\n

3 AM
\nLight Rain Shower
\n70\u00b0
\n73\u00b0
\n99%
\n9 SE<\/p>\n

4 AM
\nLight Rain Shower
\n71\u00b0
\n73\u00b0
\n99%
\n9 SE<\/p>\n

5 AM
\nLight Rain Shower
\n71\u00b0
\n74\u00b0
\n98%
\n9 SSE<\/p>\n

6 AM
\nPatchy Rain Nearby
\n72\u00b0
\n75\u00b0
\n96%
\n9 SSE<\/p>\n

7 AM
\nLight Drizzle
\n73\u00b0
\n75\u00b0
\n94%
\n11 S<\/p>\n

8 AM
\nLight Rain Shower
\n70\u00b0
\n71\u00b0
\n93%
\n11 SSW<\/p>\n

9 AM
\nPatchy Rain Nearby
\n72\u00b0
\n69\u00b0
\n80%
\n13 SW<\/p>\n

10 AM
\nPatchy Rain Nearby
\n74\u00b0
\n70\u00b0
\n68%
\n14 SW<\/p>\n

11 AM
\nSunny
\n75\u00b0
\n70\u00b0
\n54%
\n14 SW<\/p>\n

12 PM
\nPartly Cloudy
\n76\u00b0
\n70\u00b0
\n50%
\n15 SW<\/p>\n

1 PM
\nPartly Cloudy
\n75\u00b0
\n69\u00b0
\n51%
\n14 SW<\/p>\n

2 PM
\nPartly Cloudy
\n72\u00b0
\n66\u00b0
\n59%
\n15 SW<\/p>\n

3 PM (Green Flag)
\nPatchy Rain Nearby
\n69\u00b0
\n65\u00b0
\n69%
\n12 SW<\/p>\n

4 PM
\nOvercast
\n66\u00b0
\n62\u00b0
\n77%
\n11 SW<\/p>\n

Hourly forecast, all times Eastern \u2022 Race start (3 p.m. ET) highlighted \u2022 Wind direction is where the wind is coming from \u2022 Source: NASCAR.com, Charlotte Motor Speedway race weather<\/p>\n

Charlotte Motor Speedway Drying Time<\/p>\n

Air Titan trucks blast water off the surface, and jet dryers follow with heat<\/a>. Together, they can ready the track in a little more than 90 minutes once the rain stops.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as the rain stops, we\u2019ll get the cars on the track,\u201d jet dryer operator James Dixon said in 2016, according to WBTV\u2019s David Whisenant<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Working backward from a 3 p.m. green flag, the rain must clear by roughly 1:30 p.m. ET. Any later, and a delayed start becomes the working assumption.<\/p>\n

Charlotte does not permit racing on a wet track. NASCAR cannot race on a wet oval<\/a> under normal Cup procedures, and the Charlotte tire package lists only the standard intermediate setup, according to NASCAR.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NASCAR\u2019s September rule change lets teams pick slicks or wet-weather tires after a rain caution at wet-weather oval races, according to RACER<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BANK OF AMERICA 400 \u2014 STARTING LINEUP<\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series \u2022 Charlotte Motor Speedway \u2022 Sunday, Oct. 11 \u2022 3 p.m. ET \u2022 USA Network<\/p>\n

POS
\nNO.
\nDriver
\nTeam<\/p>\n

1
\n5
\nKyle Larson (C)
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n

2
\n19
\nChase Briscoe (C)
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n

3
\n45
\nTyler Reddick (C)
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n

4
\n12
\nRyan Blaney (C)
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n

5
\n2
\nAustin Cindric (C)
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n

6
\n24
\nWilliam Byron (C)
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n

7
\n22
\nJoey Logano (C)
\nTeam Penske<\/p>\n

8
\n23
\nBubba Wallace (C)
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n

9
\n9
\nChase Elliott (C)
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n

10
\n97
\nShane van Gisbergen
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n

11
\n77
\nCarson Hocevar (C)
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n

12
\n11
\nDenny Hamlin (C)
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n

13
\n17
\nChris Buescher (C)
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n

14
\n7
\nDaniel Su\u00e1rez (C)
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n

15
\n54
\nTy Gibbs (C)
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n

16
\n48
\nAlex Bowman
\nHendrick Motorsports<\/p>\n

17
\n20
\nChristopher Bell (C)
\nJoe Gibbs Racing<\/p>\n

18
\n16
\nA.J. Allmendinger
\nKaulig Racing<\/p>\n

19
\n71
\nMichael McDowell
\nSpire Motorsports<\/p>\n

20
\n3
\nAustin Dillon
\nRichard Childress Racing<\/p>\n

21
\n35
\nRiley Herbst
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n

22
\n6
\nBrad Keselowski
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n

23
\n4
\nNoah Gragson
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n

24
\n43
\nErik Jones
\nLegacy Motor Club<\/p>\n

25
\n60
\nRyan Preece (C)
\nRFK Racing<\/p>\n

26
\n33
\nAustin Hill (i)
\nRichard Childress Racing<\/p>\n

27
\n21
\nJosh Berry
\nWood Brothers Racing<\/p>\n

28
\n1
\nRoss Chastain
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n

29
\n42
\nJohn Hunter Nemechek
\nLegacy Motor Club<\/p>\n

30
\n41
\nCole Custer
\nHaas Factory Team<\/p>\n

31
\n34
\nTodd Gilliland
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n

32
\n47
\nRicky Stenhouse Jr.
\nHyak Motorsports<\/p>\n

33
\n10
\nTy Dillon
\nKaulig Racing<\/p>\n

34
\n38
\nZane Smith
\nFront Row Motorsports<\/p>\n

35
\n51
\nCody Ware
\nRick Ware Racing<\/p>\n

36
\n88
\nConnor Zilisch
\nTrackhouse Racing<\/p>\n

37
\n67
\nCorey Heim (i)
\n23XI Racing<\/p>\n

38
\n66
\nGray Gaulding (i)
\nGarage 66<\/p>\n

39
\n44
\nB.J. McLeod
\nNY Racing Team<\/p>\n

Pole: Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports \u2022 (i) = ineligible for series points \u2022 (C) as designated on NASCAR\u2019s official lineup \u2022 TV\/streaming: USA Network, HBO Max \u2022 Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin Face Wet-Track Variables<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson starts from the pole, according to RACER\u2019s qualifying coverage<\/a>. He carries a 40-point Chase lead over Denny Hamlin, according to EssentiallySports\u2019 race preview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Larson has finished no worse than fifth<\/a> through five Chase races, winning at World Wide Technology Raceway and Kansas Speedway before a runner-up finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

Hamlin, who won the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, finished 16th at Las Vegas. Christopher Bell, third in the standings, won the rain-shortened 2024 Coca-Cola 600 and placed eighth or better in four of his last five Charlotte starts. DraftKings lists Larson and Hamlin at +450, Bell at +500 and Chase Briscoe at +550.<\/p>\n

With no practice, no team has turned a lap on the Charlotte oval this weekend. A delay would push the Cup start closer to the 8 p.m. ET O\u2019Reilly race, and any damp patches after drying would put every setup to its first real test.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJonathan Vankin<\/a> JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist who covers MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, boxing, golf, and Olympic sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Newspaper and Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering the Olympics, pro baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Will rain delay Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte? Get the latest weather forecast, scheduled start…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":928955,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":["post-928954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nascar","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=928954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/928955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=928954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=928954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=928954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}