Let's go Chasing at Texas: Stars, cars and (dang it) sprinkles for NASCAR show

Ray Slover

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Let's go Chasing at Texas: Stars, cars and (dang it) sprinkles for NASCAR show image

Raindrops arrived at Texas Motor Speedway as Chuck Norris was delivering his powerful Chase driver introductions.

And that brought a rain delay, with Sunday's race expected to start after 3:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott was trying to get over a case of the punies. A replacement driver was standing by in case Elliott couldn't make the start in the AAA Texas 500.

MORE: Starting lineup | November reign: Johnson and other Texas Chase winners

Rain was forecast during the race, which would be a shame but not unexpected given NASCAR's rotten weather luck this season. Sunday's scheduled start was moved up to 2:04 p.m. ET to get as many laps completed as possible if rain came.

Elliott said he was better before race time and hoped to make the full 500 miles. Just in case, Justin Allgaier was ready to jump into Elliott's car.

Part of the rain-delay activity (if that's the right word) ...


Kevin Harvick and fans doing the challenge? Nope, pre-race driver intros. (Getty Images)

Tony Stewart was trying to figure out how to cap the celebration on his final Texas race. A two-time winner in the November races, Stewart also has another problem: what to do with a life-size replica of the bobblehead dolls race fans received.

Actor Dennis Quaid was on hand as well.

Meanwhile …

Sunday's winner, if it's not Jimmie Johnson or a non-Chase driver, will earn a berth in Chase championship race on Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami. Johnson won the past four November races at Texas.

Ray Slover