Nationwide race postponed to Sunday night because of rain at Texas
Cars remained inside garages Saturday as the Nationwide Series race was postponed because of rain.
// LaDon George, NASCAR Illustrated
FORT WORTH, Texas – The NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 was postponed Saturday because of rain at Texas Motor Speedway.
The race is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, following the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at 3 p.m., meaning 15 drivers will attempt to run both races in the same day weather permitting. The race, the first Nationwide race postponed because of rain in the last 49 events in the series, will be televised on ESPN2.
“Those are tough days that really test you, more than just as a competitor but as an athlete," said Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski, the Nationwide Series points leader and one of the 15 running both events. "It makes an interesting challenge, and hopefully for some of the regular Nationwide guys, it evens the playing field a little bit.
“I think I’ve got two good cars. … I'm a little nervous about it. I'm very fortunate to be leading the points and I have no room to make a mental error if I'm going to win the championship all year. It's going to be very draining to run the Cup race and it leaves the opportunity to make a mental mistake from being worn down."
The National Weather Service predicts a 70 percent chance of rain until the late afternoon or early evening for Sunday.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Joey Logano is on the pole for the Nationwide event.
“The track will have changed whenever we run on it," Logano said. "The good thing is that the Cup cars will have run their race on the track, so there will be some rubber out there.
"We will have to adjust on the car some during the race, but our team is good at adjusting. I think we will be strong whenever we get things rolling."
Fans with tickets just for the Nationwide race are asked to enter the track off of Interstate 35W and take the Dale Earnhardt Way exit.
