NASCAR postpones Sprint Cup race to Sunday due to hurricane

Published 5:30 pm Saturday, October 8, 2016

By David Scott

The Charlotte Observer

CONCORD, N.C. — For most NASCAR drivers, news that Saturday’s Sprint Cup race has been postponed until Sunday could have been worse.

They could have been anywhere else but Charlotte.

“It’s easier with the rain and weather, because this is where so many drivers live,” Brad Keselowski said. “If there’s one to do it, this is it.”

The race, which has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. PDT Sunday, was postponed due to rain coming from Hurricane Matthew. It will be followed by the Xfinity race, which was also postponed from Friday.

It’s the second consecutive weekend there will be a Cup-Xfinity doubleheader. Last week’s scheduled Xfinity race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway was rained out Saturday and run Sunday before the Cup race.

“Wet weekends, you can get sluggish and (gain) like 100 pounds eating,” Keselowski said. “You can forget to take care of yourself. You can tighten up. But that’s part of being a race car driver.”

Keselowski said his No. 2 Ford is already set up for Sunday. Because of the likelihood of the rain and a potential postponement, he practiced and qualified Friday in race trim.

“So I think we’re going to be fine in that capacity,” said Keselowski, who will start 20th.

Kevin Harvick will start on the pole, with Alex Bowman starting second.