Mother Nature is creating some issues with first day of NASCAR’s fall race weekend in Dover.
Qualifying for Sunday’s Sprint Cup “Citizens Soldier 400” this afternoon was canceled due to rain.
That means the 16 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship race will start up front with points leader Brad Keselowski on the pole.
The precipitation stopped long enough earlier to hold practice sessions for that race and the others this weekend on the Monster Mile.
That was good news for drivers like Jimmie Johnson – a ten-time winner at Dover – who’s needs a strong performance Sunday in first knockout race in Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship elimination format.
But Johnson concedes the rain leaves the track in different condition than can be expected Sunday. He also thinks the wind could limit the benefits of practice.
"Between those two elements, I’m just going to remind myself all day long of what I think I’ll need on Sunday and just try to live with a little less lap time that I’d want today," said Johnson.
Following Sunday’s race, the field of 16 contending for the season title shrinks to 12 when the four drivers with the lowest point totals are eliminated.
The K&N Pro Series East race is also on-tap Friday on the Monster Mile. Weather permitting that gets the green flag at 5 pm.
