NASCAR delays FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan due to rain

Once again, the weather is plaguing NASCAR weekend. Just as the FireKeepers Casino 400 was set to start, rain moved back in. Christopher Bell is set to lead the field to green, but they can’t get to green. While the track was dried after heavy rains earlier in the day, showers keep moving in and out and ruining the day.

Right now, drivers have fired engines and run some caution laps. Now they are in a standstill on pit road, covered up, and drivers are mostly waiting in their cars. Pace laps were unable to turn into green flag laps and now we are waiting for the weather to hold up.

For now, drivers are taking interviews on pit road and waiting for things to chill out. The FireKeepers Casino 400 should be good to go once this rain lets up.

Never mind. They lost the backstretch. Drivers can get out of their cars.

Rain delay. https://t.co/DeqzNytLGG

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 6, 2023

NASCAR originally moved the start time up by roughly 20 minutes. While it might help get the race in under sunset, it didn’t seem to help as far as avoiding the weather. Michigan is another victim of weather this NASCAR season and if we’re lucky, it won’t be the next Monday race this year.

Jet driers got the track dry, then there was more rain, and now the track is lost again. After things get dried back off then they will try to run cars out there again. Pace laps will be the judge if the track is ready or not.

FireKeepers Casino 400 will get going green

Just ahead of 4:15 PM, the FireKeepers Casino 400 is set to go green. The jet driers had to give the track a few runs before the rain was taken care of. However, NASCAR has worked quickly and deligently to make sure this race can happen.

With more than half of the races this year being affected by weather, NASCAR seems determined to get this race completed on Sunday. Monday races have gotten a little old and stale in 2023. Hopefully, the weather stays away and we don’t have to worry about sunset tonight shortening this race.

This is the fourth to last race in the NASCAR regular season. After Michigan, only Indy, Watkins Glen, and Daytona await. That means it is make or break time for drivers like Chase Elliott. Playoff picture gets clearer by the day and there are only a few precious spots left.