Mud postpones NASCAR’s 1st dirt race since 1970
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor &
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Mar 29, 2021 4:23 AM EDT
Early in the morning of Sunday, March 28, heavy rainfall caused a flash flood in Nashville, Tennessee. Cars were half-submerged, and some lost their homes due to this disaster.
For the first time in more than 50 years, NASCAR’s premier series is headed to the dirt for one of the most anticipated races of the season, but the dirt race turned muddy as a wet weekend unfolded.
"Rounds of rain, thunderstorms and even severe weather in the area led to a decent soaking for the track on Saturday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.
Over an inch of rain fell during the day, leaving the track quite wet and muddy.
Both the qualifying heat races for the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were cancelled on Saturday as a result of the weather.
As AccuWeather forecast earlier in the week, rain continued Saturday night and Sunday.
Without enough time for the track to dry out, following 2.20 inches of rain through Sunday morning in Bristol, NASCAR postponed the two races slated for Sunday afternoon and evening until Monday.
After Saturday's rainout, Fox Sport’s Bob Pockrass said on Twitter that "it would take more than a few hours" to prepare the track after rain stops falling.
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Luckily, the forecast for Monday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway is dry and sunny, with temperatures peaking in the lower 60s, assisting track managers with the drying process.
For any fans able to attend the rescheduled races, less mud is likely to fly through the air, but dirt still may.
“When the dirt starts flying, no surface is safe,” Bristol Motor Speedway said in a press release.
“Bring a clean sock or stocking to use as a filter for your beverage in case there’s no lid,” track officials added. “And speaking of lids, a good hat, cap or hoodie will keep chunks of mud from flying into your hair or ears.”
Fans are also being encouraged to wear boots, a towel, goggles and a face mask.
Mud covers the windshield and grill of driver Stewart Friesen truck during a heat race for a NASCAR Truck Series race on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Between Jan. 11 and Feb. 25, Bristol Motor Speedway was buried in more than 2,000 truckloads of dirt, transforming the 0.533-mile oval track into a bonafide dirt track that will be center stage this weekend. The last time that the NASCAR Cup Series raced on the dirt was on Sept. 30, 1970, when Richard Petty took the checkered flag, well before many of the current Cup drivers were even born.
Bristol Motor Speedway after it was completely covered in dirt. (Image/EarthCam)
Some of the current drivers have some experience on dirt from their early racing days, but not all. “I’m not a dirt guy,” past NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Bush said in an interview with Fox Sports. “I did race dirt when I was a kid,” Busch continued, “but those cars were made for dirt.” He went on to compare driving his current car on dirt like driving on an ice rink.
Bristol is sometimes called the ‘Last Great Coliseum’ and can pack in 162,000 fans. However, the race is limited to fewer than 41,000 spectators due to COVID-19 guidelines so that everyone can remain socially distant.
Those fortunate enough to be in attendance to cheer on their favorite driver in person this weekend will need to make sure that they are ready for the potentially wet weather, as well as the dirt.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Sports
Mud postpones NASCAR’s 1st dirt race since 1970
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor & Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Mar 29, 2021 4:23 AM EDT
Early in the morning of Sunday, March 28, heavy rainfall caused a flash flood in Nashville, Tennessee. Cars were half-submerged, and some lost their homes due to this disaster.
For the first time in more than 50 years, NASCAR’s premier series is headed to the dirt for one of the most anticipated races of the season, but the dirt race turned muddy as a wet weekend unfolded.
"Rounds of rain, thunderstorms and even severe weather in the area led to a decent soaking for the track on Saturday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert said.
Over an inch of rain fell during the day, leaving the track quite wet and muddy.
Both the qualifying heat races for the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were cancelled on Saturday as a result of the weather.
As AccuWeather forecast earlier in the week, rain continued Saturday night and Sunday.
Without enough time for the track to dry out, following 2.20 inches of rain through Sunday morning in Bristol, NASCAR postponed the two races slated for Sunday afternoon and evening until Monday.
After Saturday's rainout, Fox Sport’s Bob Pockrass said on Twitter that "it would take more than a few hours" to prepare the track after rain stops falling.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Luckily, the forecast for Monday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway is dry and sunny, with temperatures peaking in the lower 60s, assisting track managers with the drying process.
For any fans able to attend the rescheduled races, less mud is likely to fly through the air, but dirt still may.
“When the dirt starts flying, no surface is safe,” Bristol Motor Speedway said in a press release.
“Bring a clean sock or stocking to use as a filter for your beverage in case there’s no lid,” track officials added. “And speaking of lids, a good hat, cap or hoodie will keep chunks of mud from flying into your hair or ears.”
Fans are also being encouraged to wear boots, a towel, goggles and a face mask.
Mud covers the windshield and grill of driver Stewart Friesen truck during a heat race for a NASCAR Truck Series race on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Between Jan. 11 and Feb. 25, Bristol Motor Speedway was buried in more than 2,000 truckloads of dirt, transforming the 0.533-mile oval track into a bonafide dirt track that will be center stage this weekend. The last time that the NASCAR Cup Series raced on the dirt was on Sept. 30, 1970, when Richard Petty took the checkered flag, well before many of the current Cup drivers were even born.
Bristol Motor Speedway after it was completely covered in dirt. (Image/EarthCam)
Some of the current drivers have some experience on dirt from their early racing days, but not all. “I’m not a dirt guy,” past NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Bush said in an interview with Fox Sports. “I did race dirt when I was a kid,” Busch continued, “but those cars were made for dirt.” He went on to compare driving his current car on dirt like driving on an ice rink.
Related:
Bristol is sometimes called the ‘Last Great Coliseum’ and can pack in 162,000 fans. However, the race is limited to fewer than 41,000 spectators due to COVID-19 guidelines so that everyone can remain socially distant.
Those fortunate enough to be in attendance to cheer on their favorite driver in person this weekend will need to make sure that they are ready for the potentially wet weather, as well as the dirt.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo