Updated
Updated · Tennessean · Jul 12
NASCAR Restarts Atlanta Cup Race After 3-Hour Delay as Ryan Blaney Leads at 109 Laps
Updated
Updated · Tennessean · Jul 12

NASCAR Restarts Atlanta Cup Race After 3-Hour Delay as Ryan Blaney Leads at 109 Laps

3 articles · Updated · Tennessean · Jul 12

Summary

  • 11:37 p.m. ET, NASCAR lifted the red flag at Atlanta and restarted the Quaker State 400 after more than three hours of weather stoppage.
  • Lightning and rain halted the Cup Series race at 8:25 p.m. ET after 109 laps, with heavy rain later soaking the Hampton, Georgia, track and forcing a full drying operation.
  • Ryan Blaney led when the race was stopped, and NASCAR told teams they would run the full distance Saturday night with a dry track, lights and clearing radar.
  • 130 laps will make the race official; if it slips into July 13, the National Weather Service forecasts another 50% to 70% chance of rain from mid-morning through evening.

Insights

With advanced weather tech, why do NASCAR races still face crippling three-hour delays?
What is the true multi-million dollar cost of a single rain-delayed NASCAR race?
How does a long rain delay secretly benefit certain drivers while penalizing others?