03

Well, what do you know?
The rain has momentarily stopped. The fans are back in their seats. And the track is nearly dry.
Will it hold up? We’ll see.
But as of 3:53 p.m. EDT, it looks like there’s going to be a race at BMS today.

Posted by Brian T. Smith
NASCAR

The rain has now stopped and the trucks are out trying to dry the track .We could be racing within the next two hours. Of course, if it starts raining again, it’s possible the biggest cheer coming up from the grandstand today could be for the crews starting up the trucks to dry the track.
Right now, however, it’s looking clear. We may get this thing in. Stay tuned.

Posted by From the Archives

This morning was a nice morning for racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. Too bad we don’t race in the morning.
I felt a few rain drops after chapel service for the Nationwide Series drivers which follows the drivers’ meeting, With those rain drops, the chances of the Sharpie Mini 300 being run today began to fall as well.
We’re now experiencing a steady downpour, with a bit of thunder and a lightning bolt or two. I’m not complaining, we got a good view of the lightning from up here in the press box at BMS.
Down in the infield, crew members were watching the Weather Channel or examining the weather radar to track the storm coming up from the southwest.
A line of Nationwide cars sits parked against the retaining wall along the back stretch, covered like someone’s old Chevy in the garage.
Auto racing in a rain delay is a pitiful sight. We can’t even comfort ourselves with reruns of “Sanford & Son” during the delay, like TBS used to provide during Braves, or “This Week in Baseball” with Mel Allen.
If the rain lets up, they’ll dry the track and we’ll try to race. Until then, we’re not going anywhere.

Posted by From the Archives

Yep. It’s coming down good.
1:22 p.m. EDT and the sky and the track have turned dark gray.
There was just a lightning pop, too.
Some talking head on TV just said “hail” is expected.
Good times.

Posted by Brian T. Smith

Jeremy Mayfield (No. 70 Chevrolet) made it through 10 practice laps this morning.
On the 11th, his engine started blowing out major smoke.
His car was eventually wheeled back to the infield.
Other than Mayfield’s smoker, it was a normal practice run.
As for the weather, the sun is out, the air is fine and the sky is relatively clear at Bristol Motor Speedway right now.
It’s supposed to be a different story, though, by the time the Nationwide Sharpie Mini 300 is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Still, the fans are here.
The stands are filling up and the walkways around BMS are clustered.
Should be a long day.

Posted by Brian T. Smith
NASCAR