NASCAR rain delay updates: Tracking Charlotte weather forecast for Thursday's postponed Cup rac

A NASCAR Cup Series race had been slated to take place for the fourth time in 11 days until the Alsco Uniforms 500 was postponed to Thursday.

The abundance of live racing action has been a welcomed return to normalcy — or at least something resembling normalcy — during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down most of the sports world. But the rain has not. Several races have been interrupted or shortened by the rain since NASCAR's return, and it happened again Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR decided to push the Alsco Uniforms 500 back one day to 7 p.m. on Thursday. After 31 laps, the race got put under the red flag due to lightning in the area. 

Sporting News is tracking the weather updates for the Alsco Unforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

9:17 p.m. — The race is back to green at Lap 35. 

9:09 p.m. — Engines are re-fired. About to start back up. 

9:03 p.m. — Engines will restart at 9:07. 

9 p.m. — One more cell to watch for. 

Big cell to south moving away from track. One very small cell developing. pic.twitter.com/QjiNgD8kLa

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2020

8:57 p.m. — Drivers heading back to the track. Looking at a 9:15 ET restart time. 

8:56 p.m. — The lightning hold has been lifted, NASCAR announced. 

8:53 p.m. — Approaching an hour long delay. 

Reports of rain on backstretch and then Turn 4 but NASCAR hopes radar shows it is moving out and continuing track drying. One more cell to south to watch ... pic.twitter.com/5Mf4MWS4QX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2020

8:37 p.m. — Some mist on the track. 

NASCAR reporting light mist as track drying continues ... one more cell to the south to watch. pic.twitter.com/hfDSVQoQ5F

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2020

8:31 p.m. — Air titans are out to dry the track.

The Air Titans have been sent out onto the track at @CLTMotorSpdwy to begin drying efforts, but we still remain in a lightning delay.

Continue to stay tuned in to FS1 for further updates.

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 29, 2020

8:16 p.m. —  Looks like the severe weather veered east of Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

The heavy stuff appears to have missed the track ... pic.twitter.com/aOzK9QhY9z

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2020

8:12 p.m. —  Could be back soon. 

If no more strikes or rain-will be back at 8:25 https://t.co/yZYfzdtcTP

— Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) May 29, 2020

8:05 p.m. —  Another update. 

. @Nascar weather update #nascar #cltwx pic.twitter.com/ogxXPhN8nR

— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 29, 2020

8 p.m. ET—  Severe thunderstorm warning for the track. A minimum of a 30-minute delay will be in place. 

Track is in area under severe thunderstorm warning. pic.twitter.com/yfp1RZDmyC

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 28, 2020

MORE: Watch NASCAR races live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

What time does the NASCAR race start today?

• Date : Thursday, May 28
• Start time : 7 p.m. ET (7:25 p.m. ET green flag)
• TV channel : FS1
• Live stream : Fox Sports Go |  fuboTV (7-day free trial)

The Alsco Uniforms 500 was postponed Wednesday and will now take place on Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. For those without cable, the race can be streamed on Fox Sports Go and fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.

According to weather.com, there is a 15 percent chance of rain in the Concord, N.C., area at 7 p.m. ET, as scattered thunderstorms are expected to move through the region. The early afternoon hours at the track featured sun, but more storm systems were expected to threaten the area later in the evening.

At 2:15 PM ET, moderate to heavy showers & storms approaching @CLTMotorSpdwy fm SW at 15-20 mph. Coord w/ @NASCAR_WXMAN , fcst remains on track for aft rain chcs, but lower chcs during evening hrs. Rain delays are poss for #AlscoUniforms500 - Odds of Racing 60-70% pic.twitter.com/8SASGCEDrO

— RaceWeather - Aaron Studwell, Ph.D. (@RaceWeather) May 28, 2020

While not as widespread as yesterday (not tropical system) Storms will be more sct'd this evening @CLTMotorSpdwy - Odds of Racing this evening 60-70% but with a lot more dry openings - working with @RaceWeather #NASCAR

— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) May 28, 2020

Radar at moment looks promising after some rain at Charlotte. #NASCAR Race Hub at 6pm ET on FS1 to get you ready for Cup race. Invocation at 7:05 and green flag at 7:25. Stages 55-60-93. Competition caution Lap 20. Official race Lap 104. #nascar ⁦ @NASCARONFOX ⁩ pic.twitter.com/gNfkicbTjn

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 28, 2020

A flood warning is in effect for the Concord area until 9:45 p.m. local time Thursday.

NASCAR starting lineup at Charlotte

Below is the complete starting lineup for Thursday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The top 20 spots are an inversion of the top 20 finishers from Sunday's race, and the bottom 20 spots are simply the bottom 20 finishers from Sunday's race, with the exception of Johnson.

One note: Josh Bilicki and J.J. Yeley are driver changes from Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, so they will drop to the back of the pack before the start of Wednesday night's race.