NASCAR at Texas live updates: Race postponed again to Tuesday due to weather

Note: This is Monday’s race update file. For live updates from Tuesday’s NASCAR event, click here.

NASCAR has postponed its race at Texas for a second time due to persistent wet weather. The race is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT (noon EST) on NBCSN. NASCAR sent out the following memo:

“With continued moisture and low temperatures hampering drying efforts, as well as a similar forecast for the remainder of this evening at Texas Motor Speedway, the resumption of the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 has been pushed to Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT / Noon ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.”

The race at the 1.5-mile oval will be 501 miles (334 laps) with stages breaks on laps 105, 210 and 334. The field will re-start on Lap 53 after completing the first 52 laps Sunday before the red flag came out.

More rainy weather is in the forecast for NASCAR today.

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Joey Logano is the only driver who has clinched a spot in the Championship 4 race thanks to his win at Kansas last weekend. Another playoff driver could lock in his spot at Texas.

Follow along here for lap-by-lap updates for the Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Refresh this page for the latest updates and follow NASCAR reporter Alex Andrejev on Twitter at @AndrejevAlex. All times listed are Central.

4 p.m.: Uncertain drying

NASCAR reports light mist around the speedway, but there appears to be some progress in Turns 1 and 2. More rain and mist appears to be pushing in, however, based on local forecasts. Drying efforts could be futile.

3:11 p.m.: Air Titans back out

Eight Air Titans pull back out to restart drying attempts as a mist cloud continues to hang over to Texas Motor Speedway. Clint Bowyer is still leading.

2:35 p.m.: Mist returns, drying stops

The NASCAR tower radios to its track drying team after mist returns that the looping saga now deemed the “Employee 500” has been called off as the Titans and jet driers aren’t making progress and they report that Turns 3 and 4 are lost. The vehicles park as the latest mist cloud settles in.

2:17 p.m.: Still drying

NASCAR reports a very light mist and that the Air Titans are making progress on the bottom lane. A jet dryer and Elgin sweeper are on pit road as a few crew members attempt drying their pit stalls.

1:50 p.m.: Drying underway

The sky is the clearest it’s been all day, with more visibility overlooking Texas Motor Speedway and the heavy fog dissipated. The track drying team appears to be making its most progress so far as well, with larger spots clearing in Turns 1 and 2, and on the backstretch. The radar shows that the rain cell has moved out of the area, but the mist is the persisting element that’s keeping the track slick. We’re still on standby here.

12:45: Air Titans told to re-fire

There is still a cloud hanging over Texas Motor Speedway, but the rain has subsided into a very light mist. NASCAR calls on its Air Titans to re-fire in attempt to resume drying the track.

12 p.m.: Track drying stopped, too much rain

The misting has become heavy enough to become visible from indoors and NASCAR reports light rain has picked up. It calls off its Air Titans, which weren’t making much progress. The Titans stop on the side of the track and jet driers are also no longer making laps, indicating it will at least be another 1.5 to two hours for the track to reach dry conditions, as that is how long it typically takes the team.

11:40 a.m.: Raining again

Light rain has returned and NASCAR tells its jet driers to refuel around 11:30. Ten minutes later, Turn 2 has returned to almost completely dark grey as the earlier dry spots return to wet conditions. And we continue waiting for any clearing or update. The weather radar shows that there could be a clearing around 12:30 p.m. CT when the large rain cell moves out of the area. Mist not shown on the radar could still persist at that point, however.

11:05 a.m.: Not much progress

NASCAR calls its jet driers in to refuel as the Air Titans keep running, but the track still looks mostly dark grey in Turn 2, indicating dampness, and the Air Titans appear to be kicking up a lot of water still. There are a few lighter spots, but crew members have left pit road. No plans to resume announced yet...

10:30 a.m.: Drying efforts continue

A few Air Titans make the rounds on pit road as more crew members appear to squeegee and leaf blow their pit stalls to remove water. There is still light mist being reported from teams (temperature in the low-40s and no rain, but “damp” air reported from the infield).

10 a.m.: Pit road movement

Two vehicles are deployed on pit road, and appear to be vacuuming the bit of standing water up, as the Air Titans continue making laps around the track. About a dozen crew members have also appeared and have started blowing and sweeping their pit stalls. The wind has picked up, and the rain has appeared to have all but stopped, although there could be light mist in certain areas.

9:30 a.m.: Race delayed, track dryers moving

At 9:03 a.m. NASCAR announces that the start of the race has officially been delayed due to inclement weather and tells viewers to “stay tuned to NBCSN for further updates.” The track drying team pulls out at 9:30 a.m., although there is no official update on a projected restart time from NASCAR.

8:45 a.m.: Groundhog Day at Texas Motor Speedway

Good morning! The track is soaked with 15 minutes to the green flag. It’s been raining since overnight and a light drizzle continues overhead at Texas Motor Speedway, and is expected to persist throughout the day. The temperature is also expected to fall to around 48 degrees by 4 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service.

The postponed race was supposed to start at 9 a.m., but it’s almost certain there will not be an on-time start. The rain will likely persist throughout the day, so the race could be pushed another day or two days, but NASCAR will attempt to look for an open window to squeeze it in.

NASCAR PLAYOFF POINTS STANDINGS

NASCAR RACE STARTING ORDER (MONDAY)

*Playoff driver

This story was originally published October 26, 2020 at 9:45 AM.

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription