I hate to say it, but it looks like the NASCAR Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night is going to be a washout. All of the forecast data I use is saying the same thing. Rain arriving between 1 and 3 p.m. ET and continuing through the afternoon and evening. By 9 p.m. ET, the rain starts to break up some but not enough to get a full or even half a race complete. Professionally speaking, I would be very surprised if we see any racing Saturday night.
NASCAR at Richmond 2015 race day weather forecast: Night race appears doubtful
The forecast has not changed and it’s looking more and more likely that Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race will be a washout. With rain in the forecast for Sunday, can NASCAR get the Toyota Owners 400 in before the weekend is over?
IS THERE ANY CHANCE NASCAR RACES SATURDAY NIGHT? With all the forecast data basically saying the same thing, the odds of racing Saturday night look to be less than 10 percent.
THERE WAS RAIN FOR BRISTOL AND THEY STILL RACED, WHY NOT THIS WEEKEND? This is not like Bristol where we saw distinct windows and breaks in the rain shield. Although I gave the odds of racing last weekend at Bristol to be 40 percent, in my gut it was closer to 60 percent. This week, I am not as optimistic and I don’t see any plausible scenarios where NASCAR can race Saturday night.
BUT WEATHERMEN ARE THE ONLY JOB YOU CAN BE WRONG ALL THE TIME AND STILL GET PAID? I don’t gamble but if someone said, “I bet you $50 we will race Saturday night,” I’d take that bet. Yes, as a meteorologist, I can and occasionally get a weather forecast wrong. Those who have followed me a long time know I don’t do that very often and I also don’t throw around the word “washout” unless I truly think the forecast is that wet.
SHOULD I GO TO THE RACE SATURDAY OR WAIT TILL SUNDAY? While I am all but certain we don’t race Saturday night, I can’t tell someone what to do. I am just one of many weather forecasts that are out there. All I can tell someone is make sure you look at all the weather information that is out there and do your best to make an informed decision.
THERE’S RAIN IN THE SUNDAY FORECAST, HOW CAN THEY RACE SUNDAY? There is a chance of rain showers on Sunday but most of that occurs during the morning through midday. The rain then starts to diminish and exit between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET Sunday. If NASCAR is forced to move the race to Sunday, they can race, it just looks like a late afternoon early evening race.
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Conditions in Richmond, VA: Click here for Current Weather Conditions – Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar
SATURDAY
6 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Pre-race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 51
7 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 50
8 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 49
9 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 49
10 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 49
11 p.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 48
12 a.m. ET
Sprint Cup Series Race – Areas of rain showers – temp: 48
SUNDAY
Scattered rain showers likely during the morning but clearing out and ending by mid afternoon. High: 54
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