NASCAR Cup Series faces suspension after lightning strikes

Bad weather conditions took center stage at the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, forcing an unexpected halt to action. Just 137 laps into the race, officials were forced to raise a red flag as lightning was reported within eight miles of the track, followed by the rapid approach of a thunderstorm cell from the northeast.

The weekend had begun with sunny skies and oppressive heat, providing racing fans with a typical summer setting. But on Sunday the weather took a sharp turn as the clear morning gave way to isolated storms in the afternoon, dramatically changing the day’s racing conditions.

This year marked the fourth year of the Ally 400. The race’s return to Nashville in 2024 continued to generate excitement among NASCAR fans, reminiscent of the inaugural race in 2021. Interestingly, this is not the first time that weather has been a spoilsport; a similar scenario played out during the 2022 race, which was eventually won by Chase Elliott in disrupted conditions.

Although NASCAR has better practices in bad weather, such as running rain tires on certain tracks, their use was not permitted in the Ally 400 rules. The special rules state that rain tires can only be used on oval tracks less than a mile long and on road courses, so at the 1.3-mile Nashville Superspeedway, drivers must navigate the slippery conditions with their usual slicks.

The day was marked by several incidents on the track before the weather-related delay. A spin by John Hunter Nemechek on lap 116 and another by Ty Gibbs on lap 126 led to two of the four cautions. The leaderboard was led by Christopher Bell at the time of the delay, closely followed by Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott.

Official updates from Nashville Superspeedway State:

“NASCAR has issued a red flag due to approaching weather. Fans are asked to prepare accordingly and follow instructions from event staff. All cars have been moved to pit road due to weather in the area. Christopher Bell is in the lead and the race was stopped on lap 136. Tyler Reddick is currently second and Kyle Larson is third.

“NASCAR and track management have announced that all fans should leave the stands and seek appropriate shelter. Fans are asked to be aware that there is a risk of thunderstorms with lightning strikes in the area.

“Nashville Superspeedway officials deployed five jet dryers, six Air Tundras and two vacuum trucks to remove moisture from the track following a weather delay. The race remains red-flagged by NASCAR.”