The NASCAR Xfinity Series completed 25 laps on Saturday (July 1) of its debut race at the Chicago street circuit. Unfortunately, lightning and rain came into the city area causing the finish of the last 30 laps to be ran on Sunday (July 2).
NASCAR released a statement after the postponement of the race.
“Due to the potential for lightning strikes and in the interest of public safety and caution, the facility needed to be evacuated,” NASCAR said. “NASCAR had hoped to resume activities, but not until city officials allowed fans to return to the grandstands. The forecast for lightning extends into the next several hours, forcing NASCAR to postpone the completion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race until tomorrow morning.”
Cole Custer has led all 26 laps in the race so far that has seen three cautions.
Custer and John Hunter Nemechek led the field to the green flag with Custer getting the jump and taking the lead. Justin Marks, driving for Kaulig Racing, appeared to have blown a motor on lap 4 to bring the first caution out.
Custer led all the laps of stage one and win the stage. On lap 17, Andre Castro crashed in turn 1, bringing out the second caution. Lightning brought out the third caution three laps short of the halfway point, causing the red flag.
The race can be seen Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network.
About the author
A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.
Other than the 2 was anybody passing?
I’m sure there was a little as things sorted out after the start and restarts but there was no way to tell with all the head-on shots of the straights. I know the passing zones are in the corners but the cars go from two wide to one on the straights and we can’t see it.
coverage could be better but with no high camera positions due to lightning it was really bad.
Per the police blotter, up to 20 cars broke into the race track and turned some laps of their own. Apparently a truck broke through the turn 4 gate and also accessed via an underpass.
Can’t make this stuff up!
But Phil Alloway said
My first impression was that it was a single file affair with little to no passing. Almost seemed like they were unwilling or unable to mix it up. Perhaps as the laps wind down they will get more aggressive. If not, most will find the race boring once you get past the novelty.
Looks like the fans ( at the track and those viewing from home ) are getting screwed again by NBC and NASCAR. There’s no excuse for this piss poor scheduling.
This is the most ridiculous “display” na$crap has ever attempted. I’m at Nashville fairgrounds speedway to see real racing.
I’d be interested to see the finishing positions compared to the starting ones.