A strong storm hit the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, causing flooding and lightning that forced NASCAR to postpone the Craftsman Truck Series race and cancel qualifying laps. The race was halted after 81 of 250 laps due to torrential rainfall and flooding around the track. Photos and videos showed drivers and crew members wading through thigh-deep water, with some even attempting to swim or bellyflop in the deep water. The National Weather Service issued flood alerts for communities in western North Carolina, including Wilkes County, warning of potentially life-threatening weather.
The Flood Warning for Wilkes County and North Wilkesboro has since expired, but forecasters cautioned that road closures and continued flooding in poor drainage areas were still possible. A thunderstorm dropped between 3-4 inches of rainfall in a short time, making for muddy conditions at the Preakness at the Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. Despite the challenging track conditions, a horse named Seize The Grey won the race, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan coming in second and ending the Triple Crown hopes for the year.
The slow-moving storm system over the Southeast triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms from the mid-Atlantic to Florida on Saturday. The FOX Forecaster Center predicted that the bulk of the shower and thunderstorm activity would move offshore on Sunday, leaving behind only widely scattered chances for rain in the Carolinas and Florida. NASCAR officials expected the North Wilkesboro track to be dry enough to resume the Truck Series race on Sunday morning. The All Star Race was still scheduled to take place on Sunday evening, with 20 drivers competing for a $1 million prize.
The severe storm system that hit North Wilkesboro Speedway and the surrounding areas led to significant flooding and lightning that impacted NASCAR activities. The postponement of the Craftsman Truck Series race and cancellation of qualifying laps forced officials to reschedule events for the following day. Crew members and drivers had to navigate through high water levels, with some resorting to swimming in the flooded areas. The National Weather Service issued flood alerts for western North Carolina, warning of dangerous weather conditions that persisted even after the storm had passed.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, NASCAR officials and teams made efforts to address the impact of the storm on the race schedule. The North Wilkesboro track was expected to dry out enough for the resumption of the Truck Series race on Sunday morning, allowing for the completion of the event. The All Star Race, featuring 20 drivers competing for a significant prize, was still planned to take place later on Sunday evening. The storm system’s effects also extended to other sporting events, such as the muddy conditions at the Preakness race in Maryland, where Seize The Grey emerged as the winner in challenging track conditions.
