NASCAR race weather updates: How long will rain in forecast delay the Pocono race?

Tadd Haislop

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NASCAR race weather updates: How long will rain in forecast delay the Pocono race? image

Stop us if you've heard this before: A NASCAR race in the spring and/or summer of 2020 is being impacted by weather. The Cup Series' recent bad luck with rain is a trend that is continuing Saturday at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR has already postponed one Saturday race, the Truck Series event that was supposed to run before the Cup race at Pocono, as multiple rain showers passed over the track in Long Pond, Pa., in the morning and early afternoon. With the Cup Series race having an original green flag time of 3:54 p.m. ET, NASCAR was not able to get the track dried in time to start the race on schedule.

MORE: Starting lineup for Saturday's Pocono race

Pocono Raceway does not have lights, and sunset in the area arrives at 8:38 p.m. ET. Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass estimates the Cup race, scheduled for 130 laps around the 2.5-mile Tricky Triangle, needs to start around 6 p.m. ET at the latest in order to be run in full.

In the event NASCAR has to postpone Saturday's Cup Series race at Pocono, the first in a historic two-day doubleheader with Sunday's race at the same track, the plan would be to reschedule it for Monday, likely at noon ET on Fox.

Below is the Pocono weather forecast NASCAR will monitor as it tries to get Saturday's race started and completed.

NASCAR race weather updates

According to the weather.com forecast for Long Pond, Pa., the chances of precipitation drop as the afternoon turns to evening. Scattered thunderstorms were expected through 4 p.m. ET, but conditions were expected to improve after that.

A live weather radar for Long Pond, Pa., can be found here.

Below are the latest weather updates from Pocono Raceway.

4:50 p.m. ET: The race finally gets the green flag.

4:29 p.m. ET: The cars roll out for pace laps, but NASCAR reports some light rain in Turn 3. There are also reports of weepers around the track.

3:48 p.m. ET: NASCAR announces drivers will head to their cars at 4 p.m. ET, and the new green flag time is 4:35 p.m. ET. However, a weather cell northwest of the track is approaching.

3:40 p.m. ET: The track is almost completely dry, but NASCAR is working on some weepers in Turn 2. The start of the race will be delayed.

3:15 p.m. ET: NASCAR continues to make progress drying the track, but more weather cells are approaching from the northwest.

3:06 p.m. ET: NASCAR claims its Air Titans are making progress and promotes Fox's coverage starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.

1:58 p.m. ET: The rain at Pocono stops, and the sky starts to clear. NASCAR restarts its track drying efforts.

MORE: Odds for Saturday's race at Pocono

1:32 p.m. ET: MRN Radio's Mike Bagley confirms it is pouring at Pocono Raceway.

1:11 p.m. ET: The rain lets up, and NASCAR restarts its track drying efforts.

12:39 p.m. ET: The rain picks up, so NASCAR shuts down its Air Titans and jet dryers.

11:43 a.m. ET: The Truck Series race is postponed due to rain. It will now run Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET, setting up the first Truck-Xfinity-Cup NASCAR tripleheader at the same track on the same day in NASCAR history.

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.