Rain postpones NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont Pioneer 250

Rain postpones NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont Pioneer 250

June 8, 2013

By K.J. Pilcher

Special to NASCAR Wire Service

NEWTON, Iowa -- Weather applied the brakes to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition at Iowa Speedway postponing the DuPont Pioneer 250 to Sunday.

Rain began falling during Saturday's driver introductions, delaying and eventually postponing the event, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

NASCAR and track officials announced the postponement about two hours after the originally scheduled starting time. Track drying had begun but additional showers and the forecast of more rain led to the postponement.

It was the first time a Nationwide race has been postponed since 2008 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. It is also believed to be the first national series event postponed due to weather at Iowa Speedway.

Earlier Saturday, Austin Dillon claimed the Coors Light Pole  with an average speed of 136.737 mph around  the 0.875-mile oval in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Dillon's third straight pole matches a series record for consecutive poles with Dillon joining five others.

"We just need to finish one of these off," said Dillon, won poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway and a week ago at Dover International Speedway. Dillon, however, has yet to win in 2013. "We have the speed in the car. We have to make the adjustment throughout the race to keep us out front."

Dillon previously won for the first time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Iowa Speedway in 2010.

Sam Hornish Jr. will start his No. 12 Penske Racing Ford next to Dillon on the front row. He posted a speed of 135.834 mph, matching Dillon's 11 top-10 starts this season and four top-10 starts in as many races at Iowa Speedway.

Hornish's teammate, Joey Logano, qualified sixth, but will compete in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. He will be replaced by Ryan Blaney, who by rule must start at the rear of the field.

Brian Scott rounded out the top-three qualifiers. Kyle Larson was the fastest qualifying rookie and will start 10th.