USA Today 301 at New Hampshire under red flag due to rain
While NASCAR did what it could to avoid the rain and storms, the USA Today 301 is under a red flag for the moment as the weather passes through. The green flag was moved up to start the race sooner and beat the weather.
The racing at New Hampshire has been clean and a little boring. Lots of green flag runs. There was no caution in the first stage, giving us an idea of who had the fastest cars on the track.
With the lightning and rain soon coming over the track, NASCAR will wait to continue the USA Today 301. Wet-weather tires are an option. The race will have to end before the sunset as there are no lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Then again, the race is more than halfway over. This could be decided sooner rather than later. Who will take advantage and be out front when it matters most?
The weather was always a question this weekend. The Xfinity Series race was able to get through the rain without issue. Track was dry, a short stint with the wet-weather tires, and it was back to regular racing.
Today’s race began with a lot of green flag racing. The entire first stage went green. Chase Elliott was strong in the opening leg of the USA Today 301. However, it wouldn’t take that long for Christopher Bell to catch up and take the lead.
With thunderstorms moving into the area, it is difficult to say if this race will be finished. NASCAR waited under red and did not use wet-weather tires. Then the heavier rain moved in and fans had to move out of the stands.
Why not use wet weather tires in USA Today 301?
The red flag hold has been going on for a long time. As time ticked by, it felt like NASCAR was holding the field on pit road when they could have put on wet weather tires and gotten in more racing. While the leader, Tyler Reddick, wouldn’t want that, it’s what other drivers and the fans want to see.
With the race being over halfway over, it is official whenever NASCAR decides to call it. That could be at any moment at this point. NASCAR seems to be hoping for a quick shower, get the track as dry as you can, and then fire the cars up again and give it a go.
What started out as a mundane USA Today 301 has turned into a fun race. It would be a shame for things to end under a red flag. Sometimes, that is just the way racing goes. It is still frustrating to not see NASCAR try to use the wet weather tires.
We are going to get a decision sooner or later about the USA Today 301. There are only a few hours of daylight left to get the rest of this race finished, if the weather cooperates.