All week we've been watching the weather forecast in Charlotte, and today, NASCAR decided to make a change in an effort to get the race in.
ESPN has reported that the green flag has been moved up one hour, to 1:10 p.m. from 2:10 p.m.
Because of the threat of rain Sunday at Charlotte, NASCAR has moved the green flag from 2:10 p.m ET to 1:10 p.m.... https://t.co/cwvZMWldgc
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 7, 2017
That makes sense. Hurricane Nate will spread rain in the area this weekend.
Unsettled for Sat and Sun at @CLTMotorSpdwy Storms around Nate will affect the area, but timing is question. Radar watch @bobpockrass
— Alan Reppert (@AReppert) October 6, 2017
The forecast has rain everywhere.
Yep, 90 percent chance of thunderstorms. That's higher than it was earlier in the week.
The rain got so bad that NASCAR cancelled Saturday's Cup series practices.
Not sure if an hour will really help, though. A quick check of The Weather Channel's forecast for the Charlotte area shows rain and thunderstorms moving in Saturday and not letting up till after Monday, meaning the Xfinity race on Saturday might get in, but there's a chance Sunday's race won't even get underway.
Typically, a Sunday race that is postponed without ever getting started will be run on the following Monday. If that can't happen, NASCAR has 2 options they might consider - push it back a week and slide the remainder of the schedule, or put the Charlotte race at the end of the season. Either choice is not ideal, but they don't take chances with wet tracks. To be clear, NASCAR has not yet said anything about weather possibly impacting the race or what they might do.
Let's hope the forecasters are wrong with this one.