NASCAR Chicagoland Update: Race Finally Underway After Delay

Roughly 22 hours after the originally scheduled start time for NASCAR’s Chicagoland Speedway race, the 2011 Chase is finally – finally! – underway.

Pole-sitter Matt Kenseth took the green flag at approximately 11:15 a.m. Central time this morning and was able to pull out to an early lead over No. 2 starter Paul Menard.

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards were the other drivers to run in the top five.

The Chicagoland race is the first Chase race ever postponed from the original date (the Chase has been around since 2004). Despite the rain, it appears 30,000 or so people were able to return for today’s event.

Robby Gordon and David Stremme had to drop to the back of the field prior to the start of the race.

Due to the rain, NASCAR has scheduled a competition caution for lap 30. However, drivers were heard marveling at the amount of rubber still on the track prior to starting the race.