Stop us if you've heard this before: Inclement weather is threatening to delay a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
This is the game NASCAR plays each summer, traditionally in July but this year in late August for the series' regular-season finale. Central Florida this time of year is prone to daily passing storm systems, and based on the forecast for Saturday night in Daytona Beach, the Coke Zero Sugar 400's later date on the schedule might not save it from a rain delay for the second consecutive season.
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Saturday night's race at Daytona is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and run 160 laps. It needs to reach only the halfway point at Lap 80 to be considered official.
Daytona obviously has lights, so NASCAR in theory could delay the race late into Saturday night if need be. However, NASCAR easily could push the race back to Sunday if weather makes a Saturday night event impossible. There are no schedule issues with the weekend's Xfinity Series race at Daytona already completed and next week's Darlington race scheduled for Sunday night.
Below are the latest weather updates for the Daytona Beach area on Saturday night as NASCAR tries to conclude its Cup Series regular season on time.
NASCAR race weather updates at Daytona
Here is a live weather radar for Daytona Beach, Fla. The hourly forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of precipitation and isolated thunderstorms around 7 p.m. ET. The rain chances dip to 25 percent at 8 p.m. ET before climbing to 50 percent at 9 p.m. ET.
Below are the latest weather updates from Daytona:
7:23 p.m. ET: A small cell is approaching the track just before the green flag.
Storm is abt 4 miles SW of track, moving East-northeast abt 25-30 mph. No lightning in it...somehow 🤷♂️ https://t.co/eWW2qfvcvr pic.twitter.com/74hrrFNwP8
— RaceWeather - Aaron Studwell, Ph.D. (@RaceWeather) August 29, 2020
According to the radar, there is a storm moving toward the track. Here is what it looks like over Turn 1. pic.twitter.com/ESstxnxRqT
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) August 29, 2020
6:52 p.m. ET: The weather radar is looking better.
Can see possible rain cells dissipating around the track. pic.twitter.com/PNYeAuVSMM
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 29, 2020
6:29 p.m. ET: An hour before the scheduled green flag time, some light rain is around the track with a heavier system passing to the north.
Watching radar with @RaceWeather for @DISupdates - activity NW trying to build south WJTV possible lightning - still some light rain near the track - most of the activity is north continue to monitor #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/TJjlHczVIq
— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) August 29, 2020
5:54 p.m. ET: A fan at the track claims a "faint drizzle" is falling at Daytona.
Thank you for posting & sharing!!! https://t.co/KBSCoHnQMt
— RaceWeather - Aaron Studwell, Ph.D. (@RaceWeather) August 29, 2020
5:21 p.m. ET: The clouds over Daytona International Speedway are ominous a little more than two hours before the start of the race.
The wind seems to have picked up and dark clouds are rolling in over Daytona. Cars being gridded for the final race of the regular-season with the green flag scheduled to be at 7:30 p.m. ET | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/73xx687Jya
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) August 29, 2020
4:42 p.m. ET: A storm system is approaching the track but has not yet reached Daytona.
A few hours from 7:30pm ET green flag and showers in area but not at race track at moment. #NASCAR Race Hub gets you started at 5pm ET. NBCSN goes on at 6pm ET with coverage moving to NBC at 7pm ET. pic.twitter.com/zKi47hoINW
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 29, 2020