The weekend remains to be just a few days away, and at the moment the forecast does not present a excessive probability of rain for Saturday and Sunday. That would at all times 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? At the same time as it’s, this offers the race a really tight window earlier than it should be accomplished, so tight that its distance was already shortened from 100 initially scheduled laps a yr in the past (which ended up being 78 resulting from impending curfew following the delays) to 75 this season.
That alone robs followers of what could possibly be at the very least 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 suppose 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 might be delayed (if the monitor has lights) or postponed.
That is not doable in Chicago, the place these streets will have to be made usable for normal autos once more as quickly as doable.
Merely put, NASCAR had higher hope that the rain stays away this time round, as a result of there isn’t any feel-good narrative to bail them out of the PR nightmare if it does 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 yr 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 probability of rain over the weekend, so fingers crossed it stays that method. But it does not change that NASCAR did each single factor fallacious in getting ready for such a situation once more, and if worse involves worst, individuals must reply for it.
The race didn’t have to be shortened; the beginning time wanted to be moved earlier. A lot earlier.