What’s Happening?

Kansas Speedway hosts the stars of NASCAR this weekend for the first race in the month of May. The old saying is, “April showers bring May flowers”. Will that saying hold true this weekend, or will NASCAR compete with Mother Nature once again?

• Kansas Speedway opened in 2001, and it’s the youngest oval track on the schedule. It hosted one Cup Series race in the fall every year from 2001 until 2010 before adding a spring race in 2011. The track has held two races per year ever since.
• Kansas Speedway hasn’t had any weather delays or postponements since 2015. That happened in the spring race, and it was the second year in a row the spring race was delayed by rain.
• Fans are excited for the Cup Series to head to one of the series’ best tracks. Weather is rarely an issue, so, fans are hoping that streak continues.

Which Races Have Been the Most Impacted By Weather in Recent Years?

Weekend Weather Forecast via National Weather Service

Saturday, May 4th: ARCA Menards Series TIDE 200 (2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM Local)

• Forecast: Showers and Possibly a Thunderstorm, Mainly before 1 PM
• Temperature: High 66°F
• Rain: 79% before 1 PM; 34% after 1 PM
• Wind: NW 11-15 MPH; Gusting to 18-23 MPH

Saturday, May 4th: Truck Series Heart of America 200 (8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM Local)

• Forecast: Slight Chance of Thunderstorms Before 7 PM, Mostly Cloudy
• Temperature: High 62°F, Dropping to Upper 50s°F by Race End
• Rain: 34% Before 7 PM; 7% After 7 PM
• Wind: NE 9-10 MPH

Sunday, May 5th: Cup Series AdventHealth 400 (3:00 PM ET/2:00 PM CT)

• Forecast: Chance of Showers after 1 PM
• Temperature: High 67°F
• Rain: 37% Before 7 PM; 24% After
• Wind: E 11 MPH

Kansas Speedway Weather History

Kansas Speedway is in America’s Heartland, meaning thunderstorms are common. This messed with NASCAR a little bit in 2014, when lightning from a nearby thunder cell delayed the race’s start, forcing Fox to start the race broadcast using only robotic cameras on the wall. Thankfully, the track stayed dry, and Jeff Gordon won the first Cup Series night race in the track’s history.

The last rain delay at Kansas Speedway came in 2015. A classic Midwest rainstorm delayed the Spongebob Squarepants 400, but, the race was completed late that night. Jimmie Johnson took home his 3rd Kansas win.

This article will be updated as the week progresses and the weather forecast changes.