Wet conditions have delayed Wednesday’s attempt at resuming the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race from Texas Motor Speedway, but track-drying efforts are well underway and progress is being made. NASCAR is planning to push cars out to the grid at 4:30 p.m. ET and will aim to fire engines at approximately 5 p.m. ET, with coverage on NBCSN, NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 began Sunday, with drivers completing 52 of 334 laps before a light mist and drizzle escalated, forcing the event to be red-flagged. Nagging rain and mist then washed out both Monday’s and Tuesday’s attempts to continue the race, pushing it to a Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET restart time (on NBCSN). But that proposed schedule has been thwarted by the fourth straight day of inclement weather at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth, Texas, track.
Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford is first on the scoring pylon. He is followed by another driver in his final full Cup Series season, Jimmie Johnson with the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
The 501-miler is the second of three events in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8, which will determine the final four drivers who will race for the title Nov. 8 at Phoenix Raceway. The Championship 4 field will be set after the Round of 8 finale, scheduled Sunday (2 p.m. ET) at Martinsville Speedway. Only Joey Logano has clinched a Championship 4 berth, thanks to his victory in the round opener Oct. 18 at Kansas Speedway.
A tighter turnaround is anticipated for teams, broadcast crews and NASCAR personnel to set up for Sunday’s event in Martinsville, Virginia. Officials said if the conclusion of the Texas event is completed Wednesday, “NASCAR plans to leave the advertised Martinsville schedule in place. Any additional postponements will require an adjustment to the Martinsville schedule, and we will notify you of those changes as they happen.”
Stage 1 is scheduled to end on Lap 105 with Stage 2 to end on Lap 210. The race would be ruled an official event at the halfway point (Lap 167).
