The Monster Mile may not be the only challenge wreaking havoc on NASCAR drivers Sunday afternoon. A heavy chance of rain and thunder near Dover International Speedway threatens to delay or postpone the Gander RV 400, the Cup Series' 11th race of the season.
To date, the Monster Energy Cup Series has been pretty lucky when it comes to weather, but a system that rolled through Saturday night may change that. Friday's qualification was unaffected by weather but drivers had their final practice run on Saturday canceled.
NASCAR race weather for Dover
Current forecast:
According to weather.com, there is a 100 percent chance of thunderstorms beginning Sunday morning with showers continuing into the afternoon. The scheduled start time of the Gander RV 400 is 2:00 p.m. E.T.. The chance of rain dips to 15 percent from 2-3 p.m., but increases back to 70 percent at 4 p.m. until sunset. Dover International Speedway does not have lights.
During the race, which is scheduled for 400 laps around the 1.0-mile track, the chance for precipitation spikes at 85 percent during the race's 2 p.m. ET start. The chance of rain only falls off to 65 percent before sunset.
Brian Neudorff, the unofficial NASCAR meteorologist of social media, gives only a 30 percent chance of racing on Sunday.
Forecast for @MonsterMile - will have to monitor with @raceweather during the morning & afternoon - maybe get a break mid afternoon but keeping racing odds 30-40% - rain through the first half & early afternoon #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/j6zG8EXAbj
— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) May 5, 2019
Update on the Sunday afternoon forecast for @MonsterMile with @RaceWeather:
— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) May 5, 2019
Odds of Racing Complete vs. Official
When we think the rain will end
Will there be lingering Mist/Drizzle/Fog?
Everything you wanted to know here - https://t.co/shcoXbx7aC #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/S7FNxCGJKZ
There is a gap (window) about 2-3 hours but as @RaceWeather and I have been mentioning the possibility of drizzle and mist in that gap (you can’t see mist/drizzle on radar many times) we will monitor and hope it is dry #NASCAR RADAR UPDATE 1:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Fs7OFf0EvH
— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) May 5, 2019
#NASCAR Radar update 2:43 pm EDT - light mist & rain but some wind - there is more rain about an hour & a half out but we could still see pockets of mist/ drizzle that will hurt drying even with the wind - @RaceWeather & I continue to monitor and update @MonsterMile pic.twitter.com/ZLuxSWj9TQ
— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) May 5, 2019
Chase Elliott is the most recent champion at the Monster Mile and is coming off his first victory of the season at Talladega Superspeedway. Elliott also sits on the pole. Jimmie Johnson is looking to tie Darrell Waltrip as the most successful driver on a single track with 12 wins. Johnson hasn't won a Cup Series race since winning the 2017 AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover back in June of 2017.