Live sports are back. So are rain delays. NASCAR gets another schedule update
NASCAR spent months meticulously preparing, circulating and tweaking various versions of its 2020 return schedule until it was finally able to condense nine races into a two-week period in order to resume its season amid the global pandemic. Then, it rained.
On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that its first Xfinity race back after two months would not run as planned due to inclement weather. Fortunately, the sport has a backup plan.
The race, originally scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday before being moved up two hours due to projected rain, has now been moved to 12 p.m. on Thursday after the skies opened up over the track in Darlington, South Carolina, on Tuesday evening.
The change could affect procedures for the Cup Series schedule because rain is expected to continue throughout the week. There is currently a 90 percent chance of showers on Wednesday evening when the Cup race is scheduled, and a flash flood watch in effect through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
NASCAR has already moved its upcoming Cup race to a 6 p.m. start time on Wednesday. If that race also gets rained out, it will be moved to 7 p.m. on Thursday following the rescheduled Xfinity race.
That could affect the COVID-19 check-in and testing procedures because there will be more bodies at the track. NASCAR has not yet said how those plans will be updated. On Tuesday, the sanctioning body said that all Xfinity drivers cleared their COVID-19 screenings prior to entering the venue, as did all Cup drivers this past Sunday. There were roughly 900 people on-site on Sunday.
With permitted individuals driving to the track each race day as part of the sport’s coronavirus planning, the rain delay is a hindrance. The track is located roughly two hours from NASCAR’s Charlotte-based epicenter. Some drivers, including reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, as well as Cup drivers Timmy Hill and Garrett Smithley, are entered in events in the other series. Busch and Hill said they will compete in all nine races scheduled through May.
NASCAR’s LATEST SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. EST: Toyota 500 at Darlington Raceway — Cup Series
Thursday, May 21 at 12 p.m. EST: Alsco 300 at Darlington Raceway — Xfinity Series
Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. EST: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — Cup Series
Monday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST: Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — Xfinity Series
Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST: N.C Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — Truck Series
Wednesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. EST: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway — Cup Series
Saturday, May 30 at 3:30 p.m. EST: Cheddar’s 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway — Xfinity Series
Sunday, May 31 at 3:30 p.m. EST: Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway — Cup Series
