It started mid-afternoon, and despite some breaks, the rain eventually was the winner.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was slated to wave the green flag at around 7:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Speedway for the Quaker State 400. However, afternoon rain began passing through, with spotty showers around the track. At around 6:30, the rain was slowing down, and shortly after began to stop. Jet driers were then dispatched to begin their efforts to dry the track, and over the next hour progress was made.
But around 7:15, when driver introductions were supposed to begin, rain began falling yet again, and it was to the point where officials shut down the drying efforts as all they had done was then lost.
Driver introductions went on at 7:50 with drying efforts still going on, but the persistent rain eventually took its toll, and with an estimation of 90 minutes and up to two hours to dry the track, at 9:07 p.m. the officials made the call to postpone the race until Sunday. Kentucky is the first race postponed due to weather since last year’s season-opening Daytona 500, which was pushed to a Monday night, the first primetime NASCAR race on a weekday in the 65-year history of the sport.
TNT will have the broadcast of the Quaker State 400 beginning at 12 Noon.