What Happens If It Rains at Richmond?

What’s Happening?

With just four races until the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs, drivers must perform their best to make it into the late-season tournament. With this run to the Playoffs comes another hurdle. Rain has threatened several races this season, including the spring race at Richmond. Now, a different weather threat has emerged for this race weekend.

• Hurricane Debby continues to move on the Carolinas’ coast and is expected to move up the East Coast toward Virginia and Richmond raceway as the week progresses. The storm has already canceled Wednesday night’s Track Laps for Charity event at the track. Most outlets expect the rain to leave the Richmond area by late Friday. However, with this chance of rain, a short track like Richmond has options for rain on race day.
• The spring Richmond Race saw showers before the green flag dropped. In turn, NASCAR started the race on its wet weather tire, a first for a Cup Series points race. This would last 30 laps before a competition caution, which NASCAR used to signal to teams that all drivers must change to regular tires, also known as slicks.
• The wet weather tire resembles a standard consumer tire, with lines and grooves for treads. Much like a consumer tire, it gains traction by giving precipitation on the ground an escape route from the tire. If it rains, this adds another tire to this weekend’s proceedings, as NASCAR had priorly approved two sets of the option tire used at the All-Star Race earlier this season.

Saturday – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Clean Harbors 250

The Truck Series weekend begins at 2:30 p.m. EST with a 30-minute practice followed by qualifying. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 12% precipitation potential from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. This is followed by a drop-off to three percent around 8 p.m., with the green flag scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m.

NASCAR has a plan for when practice and qualifying are rained out. For the Truck Series, various factors, including wins, championships, and, most importantly, owner’s points, can decide how the trucks line up for the race.

If it is raining by race time, the race could be delayed until early Sunday. However, that is unlikely. With its state-of-the-art Air Titans to dry the track, NASCAR is prepared for rain and wet tracks. Unless the track is severely wet, the chances of a delay are slim with the NASCAR wet weather package also used by the Truck Series.

Another possible yet equally unlikely delay is lightning. In this instance, NASCAR has a “lightning clock.” This metaphorical clock is 30 minutes long and resets when lightning strikes within an 8-mile radius of the track. This policy is for fan safety and has been seen as recently as Pocono’s race weekend in July.

Sunday – NASCAR Cup Series – Cook Out 250

The Cup weekend schedule starts with an uncommon 45-minute practice at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. This time extension is due to the option tire being brought to the track this weekend. Upon the conclusion of this practice, qualifying will be at around 5:35 p.m.

Once again, there is a 12% precipitation potential from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with both series’ practice and qualifying falling into this time frame. The Cup Series race has a scheduled start time of 6 p.m. on Sunday, with the precipitation potential at the time being seven percent and falling to five percent as the race continues.

If Cup Series qualifying were delayed, NASCAR would utilize an advanced algorithm that factors in statistics like finishes and owners’ points. While the race is unlikely to be delayed, the series has the wet weather package as an option.

It is also important to point out that while the forecast could change, there is an added benefit of both races having nighttime starts. If things took a drastic turn, the Trucks could run mid-day Sunday, or both series could run late into the night as Richmond is a lit track.

If the Weather does change, the Daily Downforce will cover it. For this race weekend and those to come, remember to keep up with us on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.