Ask a NASCAR fan what has been the biggest problem for stock car racing this season, and the answer likely will be rain.
Oh, how Talladega wishes it could share in the suffering.
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In about a week, fans will descend on the Alabama track for its fall races, especially the Alabama 500 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. They'll bring their camping gear and set up for a weekend of racing and, shall we say, fun.
Two things fans should not bring? Confederate flags and material to make fire.
While the former suggestion might be ignored, the latter is mandatory. Alabama is under a state of emergency while in the grips of a drought.
No rain, in a year NASCAR races have dodged raindrops.
"We're not going to allow any open fires," track chairman Grant Lynch told NASCAR.com on Thursday.
Grills for cooking are open. Open fires, no.
The Alabama 500, final event in the Cup Chase's Round of 12, is scheduled for Oct. 23, with days of activities preceding the long restrictor-plate race.
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Alabama's ban on open fires covers 46 counties and includes Talladega.
“The current drought condition in our state is posing a serious threat for wildfires,” Gov. Robert Bentley said Wednesday as the ban went into effect. “The continued lack of rain combined with low relative humidity and strong winds are putting several counties at a very high risk. This declaration is meant to prevent unnecessary burning, reducing the chance of avoidable fires.”
No campfires at Talladega? A tradition gets doused.
Public safety comes first, after a week in which nearly 350 wildfires blackened more than 4,000 acres of the state.
Last week, racing at Charlotte was hindered by backwash from Hurricane Matthew. Daytona International Speedway was damaged.
How much did Talladega get? "Not a drop," Lynch told NASCAR.com.
Alabama went through a long, dry month. Weather officials said they measured more than 0.1 inch of rain only five days since Aug. 24. Before than, measureable precipitation was frequent.
NASCAR faces a rain delay the week before Charlotte, at Dover; at Darlington; at both Pocono races; at Bristol in August; in September at Chicagoland; and faced rain threat in April's Talladega race. At least it won't face a wet nuisance this time.