The weekend remains to be just a few days away, and at the moment the forecast would not present a excessive likelihood of rain for Saturday and Sunday. That might all the time change, although, and if it does, NASCAR is in bother.
Because of the logistics of racing on metropolis streets, it can’t be delayed or postponed previous Sunday afternoon … and the beginning time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET
What are we doing right here, NASCAR? Whilst it’s, this offers the race a really tight window earlier than it have to be accomplished, so tight that its distance was already shortened from 100 initially scheduled laps a 12 months in the past (which ended up being 78 on account of impending curfew following the delays) to 75 this season.
That alone robs followers of what may very well be no less than a full further hour of pleasure, whereas making the race size among the many shortest ever scheduled within the Cup Collection at solely 165 miles.
Primarily, although, one would assume that after the climate points final season, NASCAR would have inbuilt some extra wiggle room in case it rains once more. At most tracks, beginning within the late afternoon is not an issue as a result of the race may be delayed (if the observe has lights) or postponed.
That is not attainable in Chicago, the place these streets will have to be made usable for normal autos once more as quickly as attainable.
Merely put, NASCAR had higher hope that the rain stays away this time round, as a result of there is no feel-good narrative to bail them out of the PR nightmare if it would not. van Gisbergen’s win a season in the past was historic as a result of it was his first race ever within the Cup Collection, or at any NASCAR stage, for that matter.
He is entered within the occasion once more, however this 12 months he is simply one other man who occurs to be the defending winner.
Once more, at the moment the forecast is not calling for a excessive likelihood of rain over the weekend, so fingers crossed it stays that method. But it would not change that NASCAR did each single factor fallacious in getting ready for such a state of affairs once more, and if worse involves worst, folks must reply for it.
The race didn’t have to be shortened; the beginning time wanted to be moved earlier. A lot earlier.
