NASCAR drops red flag on Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway due to lightning

NASCAR has dropped the red flag on Saturday’s Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway due to lightning in the area. The delay will be at least 30 minutes.

Weather has been an issue all day Saturday, and qualifying for the Wright Brand 250 was also canceled due to rain. The red flag came after a caution came out due to rain, as well.

North Wilkesboro is the site of NASCAR’s All-Star Weekend, marking its second straight year hosting the festivities. Kyle Larson is hoping to defend his crown, but Kevin Harvick is going with one of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to get it done at North Wilkesboro.

Speaking on his “Happy Hour” podcast, Harvick picked William Byron to win his first career All-Star Race. 

“I’m gonna pick William Byron because he did the tire test there, and I think those guys are gonna have a little bit of an advantage,” Harvick said. 

Everything to know for NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race will follow the usual format, which is a 200-lap race for all the marbles between the best of the best in the series.

“The NASCAR All-Star Race (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1) is a 200-lap race, all laps count, overtime rules in effect,” Pockrass wrote. “Teams have two sets of regular tires and two sets of softer tires. Must start on the softer tire. Caution at Lap 100 with a mandatory four-tire stop. Caution at Lap 150 with no requirement whether to pit.”

Additionally, Pockrass noted how qualifying will work for both the All-Star Open and the All-Star Race, as well.

“Open qualifying (Friday, 5:40 p.m. ET, FS1) will be NASCAR’s regular short-track qualifying — two laps with the best lap counting. All on the regular tire. These teams will not compete in the pit crew challenge,” Pockrass said.

“Cup qualifying/pit crew challenge (Friday, 6:20 p.m. ET, FS1) will be three laps (all on the regular tire), with at the end of the second lap, a four-tire pit stop (fueler must engage fuel can but won’t fuel the car). The fastest three-lap time will be the polesitter for the first heat race and all-star event. The fastest stop, based on timing lines on pit road from one box prior and one box past the pit stall, will determine the pit crew champion as well as the order for pit stop selection.”

Steve Samra contributed to this report.