CUP: Race To Start Late

Sprint Cup

CUP: Race To Start Late

Tonight’s race at Richmond is under rain delay…

Tom Jensen | Posted September 08, 2012 Richmond, VA

Track officials use a jet dryer to dry the track during a rain delay before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo: Getty Images)

The start of tonight’s Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway has been delayed by strong storms blowing through the area.

The good news is, though, it looks like it’s going to get run tonight.

As of 8 p.m., the rain had stopped and track drying had begun. It takes 75-90 minutes to dry the track. NASCAR has set driver introductions for 8:45 p.m., with the command to start engines at 9:15 p.m.

Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney was scheduled to give the command, but left the track when the rains came.

If the race rains out tonight, NASCAR said it will be run at 1 p.m. ET tomorrow.

SPEED.com will continue to update this story as it develops.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

AUTOS: Score One For Cadillac
Cadillac has truly knocked it out of the ballpark with the stunning…
CUP: Dover Power Rankings
Despite a rare and costly mistake, Jimmie Johnson holds onto the…
CUP: Dover Sunday Notebook (Update 10)
Tony Stewart wins at Dover International Speedway...