Torrential rain and intermittent lightning have altered Saturday’s All-Star Weekend schedule at North Wilkesboro Speedway, leading to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race being postponed and both 60-lap qualifying heats in the Cup Series being canceled.
Saturday’s Truck Series race will pick up action on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on FS1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Wright Brand 250 began on time and was halted after 81 of the scheduled 250 laps were completed. The race was stopped by a brief shower and lightning, and a downpour near 3:30 p.m. ET drenched the 0.625-mile track.
RELATED: What to Watch: 2024 All-Star Race | All-Star Weekend schedule
Due to both 60-lap qualifying heats for Sunday’s All-Star Race being canceled, the lineup will be set according to Saturday’s qualifying results, per the NASCAR Rule Book. That means Team Penske driver Joey Logano starts from the pole position, flanked by Brad Keselowski beside him. Christopher Bell, whose No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team won the Pit Crew Challenge, will line up third. Daniel Suárez and Chris Buescher complete the top five.
Sunday’s All-Star race time remains at 8 p.m. on FS1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The All-Star Open event, in which the top two drivers advance to the All-Star Race, is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET.
Rain also canceled Craftsman Truck Series qualifying Saturday morning, forcing the lineup to be set according to the NASCAR Rule Book and placing series points leader Christian Eckes first for the green flag. Eckes led the first 62 laps before Ty Majeski took control to win Stage 1.
Rain showers bookended a brief midday period of sunshine, which allowed NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying to take place.