LAS VEGAS -- Persistent rain

LAS VEGAS -- Persistent rain Friday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delayed the start of race weekend activities on the 1.5-mile track.

 

Friday’s schedule was slated to open with Nationwide Series practice at 9 a.m. local time (noon ET), but rain delayed the start of what was planned as a two-hour, 50-minute session. Another Nationwide practice was scheduled for later Friday, as well as Sprint Cup practice and qualifying.
Weather forecasts in the area called for a 60 percent chance of rain Friday. Sprint Cup teams were on the track a day early for a test session Thursday, given that Las Vegas is the first 1.5-mile intermediate track event for the redesigned, more brand-identifiable Generation-6 race car. Nationwide cars have not yet been on the track.
Las Vegas marks the final week that last season’s points would be used to determine the race lineup if both practice and qualifying are rained out. The top 36 starters would be determined by last year’s owner’s points, with the remainder of the field set by owners’ points or qualifying attempts this season. If Sprint Cup practice does get in but qualifying does not, the field would be set by practice speeds.
Forecasts call for mostly clear skies and only a minimal chance of rain in Las Vegas for the remainder of the race weekend.