NASCAR's Round of 8 playoff race at Texas on Sunday was suspended by persistent mist after just 52 laps.
The tentative plan on Monday was to begin the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at 10 a.m. ET. However, a steady rain caused the race to be postponed until Tuesday at noon ET and then pushed even further to Wednesday at 5 p.m. The race will restart at Lap 53 with Clint Bowyer in the lead.
Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five when the race was suspended.
Truex Jr. was docked 20 points for failing a pre-race inspection — a punishment that will stand despite the postponement — and is now in serious trouble in his pursuit of a spot in the championship. There are only three positions remaining after Joey Logano's win last weekend.
The main one-on-one battle to watch out for Wednesday is between Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott, who are separated by eight points on either side of the cut-off line.
Below are the Cup Series drivers still championship eligible, ranked by points:
| Pos. | Driver | Distance from cut-off |
| 1 | Joey Logano | ADV |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | +41 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | +20 |
| 4 | Brad Keselowski | +8 |
| CUT-OFF | CUT-OFF | CUT-OFF |
| 5 | Chase Elliott | -8 |
| 6 | Alex Bowman | -27 |
| 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | -51 |
| 8 | Kurt Busch | -73 |
Sporting News tried to track live updates and highlights from Sunday's NASCAR race at Texas, but instead became a weather blog. You can follow that journey below.
MORE: Watch Tuesday's postponed NASCAR race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NASCAR at Texas weather updates from 2020 playoff race
(All times Eastern)
Wednesday, Oct. 28
3:30 p.m.: New start time appears to be 5 p.m. ET, with cars rolling to the grid 30 minutes prior. The sun is currently out.
I see the light! pic.twitter.com/GSvtTpdwTa
— Austin Dillon (@austindillon3) October 28, 2020
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) October 28, 2020
9 a.m.: After three days of postponements, the outlook has improved to finally run the race. The weather forecast in Ft. Worth call for more rain throughout the morning, but it's expected to clear up around the 3 p.m. ET start time.
NASCAR scheduled resumption of Texas race today at 3pm ET / 2pm CT. Natl Weather Service says 90% rain this morning, 25% afternoon, 2% after 4p ET, temps in mid-40s, wind 14-16mph, cloud cover/humidity decrease throughout afternoon/night. NBCSN PRN.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 28, 2020
Tuesday, Oct. 27
8 p.m.: The mist picks up again and NASCAR decides to pull the plug. Wednesday at 3 p.m. is the new scheduled start time.
6:39 p.m.: Maybe an 8:30 p.m. start? NASCAR is cautiously optimistic.
#NASCAR anticipates pushing cars to grid at 8 pm ET and aiming to fire engines at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 27, 2020
6:15 p.m.: Hey, a dry spot! We did it! (The track is definitely not yet ready for a race.)
UPDATE: THAT!!! My friends is a dryline around the top lane at @TXMotorSpeedway #NASCAR Track Drying Team is making progress!!! pic.twitter.com/0KtZ3BWkCd
— Jerry Jordan (@JerryJordan_KTT) October 27, 2020
5:20 p.m.: A good point by Kurt Busch. Clint Bowyer is technically still in the lead.
Hey @ClintBowyer, is this the longest you’ve ever been in the lead?
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) October 27, 2020
4:25 p.m.: It's a never-ending cycle.
#NASCAR reports that they've lost what they had dry on the track with the misting
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 27, 2020
2:50 p.m.: The Air Titans take another trip out to the track.
Air Titans were stopped for 20 minutes but back in action. For the second straight day, mist in Turns 3-4 is giving us fits.
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 27, 2020
We’re going to keep trying!#AutotraderEchoPark500 | #NLTX pic.twitter.com/UOZwliUXU3
1:55 p.m.: The dreaded mist has returned.
light mist now being reported at the track, making some areas that were dry now damp.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 27, 2020
Last report is mist has picked up.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 27, 2020
1:05 p.m.: Someone check on Corey LaJoie. He is slowly descending into madness.
Boredom update: I pulled out the toy I got Sunday for Levi’s story time. pic.twitter.com/8B7Ua6F8Xk
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) October 27, 2020
12:15 p.m.: NASCAR makes it official.
UPDATE: We are still in a delay due to weather conditions at @TXMotorSpeedway.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 27, 2020
Visit https://t.co/fGEFKOzq4h throughout the day for more updates and visit https://t.co/7PHWhTFrMu for current weather conditions at the track. pic.twitter.com/0p7cE2PZ1B
11:50 a.m.: Another beautiful day at Texas Motor Speedway! Push that start time back.
Reports of heavy mist at Texas and radar shows potential for sleet with temps in 30s at moment. Won’t have noon ET start. Would expect with cold temperatures likely a couple hours to dry track. pic.twitter.com/nZ56o9Q4ep
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 27, 2020
11 a.m.: Get comfortable, folks. That noon start time isn't looking good right now.
Morning, race fans! Conditions aren’t good enough to get the Air Titans out yet, but we thought this site might lift your spirits a little!
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 27, 2020
Need the positive vibes today! Let’s do this!#AutotraderEchoPark500 | #NLTX pic.twitter.com/KUfLE3labd
Monday, Oct. 26
6 p.m.: NASCAR's calling it. We'll try again at noon ET on Tuesday:
NEWS: The resumption of the #AutotraderEchoPark500 has been postponed due to inclement weather at @TXMotorSpeedway.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 26, 2020
The race will resume Tuesday, October 27 at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT on NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/H8CxcfuJfG
5:58 p.m.: NASCAR may be fighting a losing battle today. The jet driers are off.
Shut down the jet driers. They have lost everything. Not looking good for today.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 26, 2020
5:25 p.m.: NASCAR is doing everything in its power to get drivers back on the track.
#NASCAR about to send out all sorts of vehicles for "Employee 500" to help dry the track.
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 26, 2020
So will have jet driers, titans and the Employee 500 working to dry the track
4:30 p.m.: Here we go again. Keep those fingers crossed.
Fastest part of the track. Also the wettest. We’re really trying y’all! We’ve made progress, but we’re not there yet. Slightest mist in the air.#AutotraderEchoPark500 | #NLTX pic.twitter.com/TJ8l7hERwx
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 26, 2020
3:45 p.m.: The track-drying efforts have stopped, and the mist is back.
Heavy mist has returned...👎🏼 https://t.co/l9nnJzhtoL pic.twitter.com/4OHOKkw5nM
— Chris Lambert (@3widemiddle) October 26, 2020
3:05 p.m.: Not ready to race yet, but a positive development.
They want to run. We do too! No update on time, but it’s not raining and the track is the driest it’s been since about 4:00 yesterday. Everyone cross your fingers!#AutotraderEchoPark500 | #NLTX pic.twitter.com/KeAN6RTu2S
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 26, 2020
2 p.m.: Let's give the Air Titans another shot.
NASCAR has resumed track drying efforts.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 26, 2020
1:25 p.m.: The Air Titans have to hit the bench.
#NASCAR reports light rain around the track ... too much for Titans to be effective.
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 26, 2020
Titans told to take a break.
12:45 p.m.: NBCSN's Parker Kligerman with a hard-hitting report.
A weather update from @TXMotorSpeedway by @PKligerman.#NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yzs6hGRSlS
— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 26, 2020
12:05 p.m.: Mother Nature is not helping out NASCAR here.
Mist has picked up at the track, impacting ability to dry. NASCAR hoping rain cells push east of track. No estimate of window/track being dry. pic.twitter.com/flcloNqOOB
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 26, 2020
11:15 a.m.: Still no new start time, but the crews are making some progress.
No official update, but it is not raining, dryers are on the track and crews are making some preliminary efforts.#AutotraderEchoPark500 | #NLTX pic.twitter.com/LpQAkbi7Uj
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 26, 2020
10:40 a.m.: NASCAR is taking advantage of this window and attempting to dry the track.
We have movement! @TXMotorSpeedway @PRNlive pic.twitter.com/vomStlfHt6
— Doug Rice (@Riceman61) October 26, 2020
10:05 a.m.: The race is now officially delayed.
NEWS: The start of today's #AutotraderEchoPark500 at @TXMotorSpeedway has been delayed due to inclement weather.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 26, 2020
Stay tuned to NBCSN for further updates. pic.twitter.com/7CP4QTeRhF
9:50 a.m.: It looks like the postponed race is going to be delayed.
Here is the radar. Wouldn’t anticipate a 10am ET start. Won’t have sense for possible start time until see a window to dry track. When race does run, scheduled for NBCSN (TSN1 and TSN4 in Canada). pic.twitter.com/0UbQb8KzLO
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 26, 2020
Sunday, Oct. 25
8:42 p.m.: The race has been postponed to tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: NASCAR announces it has postponed the Texas race due to persistent mist.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 26, 2020
They'll try again tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. local).
8:37 p.m.: There hasn't been a peep about NASCAR's thinking in a while, but it's fair to assume a decision is coming in the next hour or so. A midnight race doesn't seem feasible.
7:55 p.m.: Here's another look at what NASCAR is dealing with.
Current conditions at Texas (via one of the virtual media center cameras): pic.twitter.com/0pJDS0rumo
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) October 25, 2020
7:30 p.m.: Texas Motor Speedway issues a statement that doesn't tell us much we didn't already know.
For everyone looking for an update: It's still wet. The track dryers are still working. It just feels like we're in a cloud. I feel soaking wet, but my light gray shirt is still light gray. Non-track surfaces do have puddles. Can't really tell about track condition
— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) October 25, 2020
7:09 p.m.: Still in a waiting period of NASCAR trying to dry off the track and seeing whether the mist goes away. Again, Texas does have lights, so there is still time to get this in before the race needs to be postponed.
6:56 p.m.: NASCAR has brought its drying machines back out, for what it's worth. But no official word on when a restart might happen.
6:37 p.m.: Good news. Maybe.
Mist has lightened up all the way around the race track.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 25, 2020
6:15 p.m.: Here's the current view of the track.
Update: still stuck in a cloud pic.twitter.com/pAEKAwrht8
— Alex Andrejev (@AndrejevAlex) October 25, 2020
6:02 p.m.: What a weird weather pattern in Texas. It's a fog-like mist, not downpour, that's keeping us waiting.
NASCAR still reporting light mist around the track.
— Jayski.com (@jayski) October 25, 2020
5:48 p.m.: Alex Bowman shares his perspective of the delay.
I’m on top of the pit box. Greg just left. He says him going back to the hauler will change the weather. So we’ll be back to racing any minute now pic.twitter.com/08m88mhA29
— Alex Bowman (@AlexBowman88) October 25, 2020
5:38 p.m.: NASCAR says it's making negative progress.
NASCAR says it is losing the ground quicker than it has been (it is getting wetter) ... NASCAR is going to shut down the jet driers and load up on fuel.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 25, 2020
5:26 p.m.: Cars remain covered at Texas.
4:55 p.m.: It could be a long while until we see a green flag.
NASCAR says it is misting hard enough that the areas where it dried the track are wet again.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 25, 2020
4:48 p.m.: Texas does have lights, for what it's worth.
4:35 p.m.: Red flag.
4:30 p.m.: Harvick is struggling to figure out what's wrong with his car after hitting the wall.
Sounds like Harvick (P36 right now) is going to have to pit again and team will try to go underneath the car and fix it.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 25, 2020
4:28 p.m.: Yikes.
Rodney Childers: "My computer is so wet, the mouse won't even work."
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 25, 2020
4:19 p.m.: Caution finally out for the weather.
4:16 p.m.: Harvick's team is upset the race isn't yellow for the moisture.
"It is f**king raining. It's ridiculous." heard on Kevin Harvick's team radio.
— Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) October 25, 2020
4:15 p.m.: There's a low mist that might be making the track surface slick.
4:13 p.m.: Harvick into the wall.
Harvick tags the outside wall and will pit! pic.twitter.com/HfvtzvThaH
— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 25, 2020
4:11 p.m.: Green at Lap 27.
4:03 p.m.: Caution for JJ Yeley.
This will be the competition caution.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 25, 2020
That's a lotta damage 😳 pic.twitter.com/LzReyTlWFS
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 25, 2020
4:00 p.m.: Kevin Harvick is maintaining an early lead.
3:56 p.m.: Back to green.
3:53 p.m.: Caution for Chris Buescher on the fifth lap.
Not a good start for Texas native Chris Buescher. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/HXSg4222Qh
— Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) October 25, 2020
3:49 p.m.: Green flag.
3:48 p.m.: Truex Jr. sends a message to his team.
Martin Truex Jr. tells the 19 group during the pace laps, “We got a great team. We can do this. I’m ready to go.” | #NASCAR
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 25, 2020
3:30 p.m.: The green flag is supposed to come at 3:47 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies are underway.
NASCAR race start time today
- Start time: Noon ET
- TV channel: NBCSN
- Live stream: NBC Sports Go | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
The Round of 8 NASCAR playoff race at Texas on Tuesday is scheduled to begin at about noon ET.
The race is 334 laps spread over three stages and will become official after Lap 167. The distance of the race is 501 miles.