Regan Smith needs skies to clear as rain threatens Saturday schedule at Talladega
Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith would miss Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Amp Energy 500 if qualifying is rained out on Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. // LaDon George, NASCAR Scene
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Furniture Row Racing’s Regan Smith will be the driver who really needs the skies to clear today at Talladega Superspeedway.
Smith would be the driver who would miss the field if Sprint Cup qualifying for the Amp Energy 500 is rained out. Smith would miss the race because his team has attempted to qualify for the fewest races among any team in the field.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. EDT and the Truck series race is scheduled to follow at 4 p.m.
It rained at the track overnight and the National Weather Service predicts an 80 percent chance of rain today, mostly before 2 p.m. EDT. As of 10 a.m. EDT, it was raining at the track.
With temperatures in the low 60s and a strong breeze, it likely will take at least two hours to dry the 2.66-mile oval.
It is unlikely Cup qualifying could start much after 1 p.m. EDT and have it get done in time for the Truck race to start on time.
The Truck event likely would need to begin by 5:30 p.m. EDT to be able to get the entire 250-mile race in before darkness. If the Truck race gets rained out, it would be run on Monday.
The forecast for Sunday is for sunny skies with a high in the upper 60s.
