The Geico 500, set to commence at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, witnessed smooth qualifying laps, culminating in Michael McDowell securing the pole position, showcasing a commendable performance by Ford drivers.
Nevertheless, the looming threat of rain overnight and a wet forecast for Sunday cast a shadow over the commencement of the 10th race of the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Here’s the latest weather updates from Talladega:
Sunday, April 21:
By 2:15 p.m., Talladega’s social media reassured fans with an optimistic message, suggesting smooth sailing ahead of the race. This indicates a potential on-time start with minimal weather disruptions.
By 1 p.m., although the rain had ceased in Talladega, lingering showers remained a concern, persisting until approximately 2:30 p.m., just before the scheduled race start. While the track management has not issued any updates regarding potential weather delays, continued monitoring remains prudent.
At 11:10 a.m., the weather outlook improved considerably overnight, with light rain reported. The National Weather Service projected the rain to subside by early afternoon, facilitating track drying efforts. Consequently, the 3 p.m. start time seemed feasible, with any potential delay likely to be brief.
Saturday, April 20:
As of Saturday afternoon, Talladega experienced overcast conditions. However, the forecast for Sunday painted a less favorable picture, with a significant likelihood of rain.
The National Weather Service predicted a 30% chance of rain on Saturday afternoon, escalating to an 80% chance overnight and on Sunday. Despite the unfavorable forecast, the chance of rain diminished to 20% by 1 p.m. CT, providing a window for NASCAR to commence the race on time, albeit potentially with a delay.
Talladega Weather Forecast (National Weather Service):
- Chance of rain (Saturday): 30%
- Chance of rain (Saturday night): 80%
- Chance of rain (Sunday): 80%
- Chance of rain (Sunday night): 0%
While the forecast suggests the possibility of rain leading up to the race, there appears to be a window of opportunity on Sunday afternoon for NASCAR to proceed with the event, provided adequate track drying measures are implemented.
