Weather Forecast for the Pocono NASCAR Race Weekend

It seems there is hope on the horizon for this weekend. After four consecutive weeks of races affected in some way by rain, it seems that there is a dry forecast. Will it be dry enough, long enough, for racing to happen on Sunday?

Weekend Forecast (via National Weather Service)

Friday, July, 21: Truck & Xfinity Qualifying (1:30 PM ET)/ARCA Race (6:00 PM ET

• Forecast: Chance of Showers and Thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly sunny
• Temperature: High 78 °F, dropping to 68 °F by the end of the ARCA race
• Rain: 34% chance at 2 PM, up to 46% at 5 PM
• Wind: W 7 MPH

Saturday, July 22: CraftsmanTruck Series CRC Brackleen 150 (12:00 PM ET)/Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 (5:30 PM ET)

• Forecast: Mostly Sunny
• Temperature: ~70 °F for Truck Series Race; 73 °F for Xfinity Race
• Rain: 0% Chance all day
• Wind: NW 10-15 MPH

Sunday, July 23: Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 (2:30 PM ET)

• Forecast: Sunny
• Temperature: 77 °F
• Rain: 0% Chance all day
• Wind: NW to W at 5-10 MPH.

Thank goodness. It seems that weather will be great for this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway. It is Pocono, after all, so rain showers can pop up out of nowhere. But, we will take this forecast.

The History of Weather at Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway has always been volatile when it comes to weather. A fan was struck by lightning in the parking lot following the rain-shortened 2012 Pennsylvania 400, which likely influenced NASCAR to implement the lightning policy that they have today.

The most recent shortened race at Pocono Raceway happened in 2016. However, it was not because of rain, it was because of fog. A massive fog bank made it impossible for spotters to see the back part of the race track, and the fog never lifted, giving Chris Buescher the win.

Hopefully Mother Nature is kind to NASCAR and the fans this weekend. She probably owes us one.