![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-05-21T015831Z_57524754_MT1USATODAY20716690_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-ALL-STAR-HEAT-RACE-1.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
May 20, 2023; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; Pace car leads the field during the first heat race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-05-21T015831Z_57524754_MT1USATODAY20716690_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-ALL-STAR-HEAT-RACE-1.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
May 20, 2023; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; Pace car leads the field during the first heat race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway has been red-flagged by the NASCAR officials. Rain showers accompanied by lightning strikes stalled the race after the completion of stage 1. This wasn’t the first time this weekend’s race at the historic track had to be put on hold because of the weather.
First, the zMAX CARS Tour event had to be postponed to accommodate the NASCAR events for the weekend. But, the All-Star Open qualifying and All-Star Qualifying session had to be rescheduled thanks to dark clouds surrounding the racetracks. To make matters worse, the rains are followed by lightning strikes, which put the Truck Series race under a lengthy delay.
All-Star heats race under serious threat with lengthy rain delays
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A number of events from Friday were pushed further and split between the two days of racing for Saturday and Sunday. The All-Star qualifying run was able to run without any jitters, but the Truck race hasn’t been so lucky. After staying green for the entirety of Stage 1, the race was put under the red flag due to lightning strikes.
Bob Pockrass, sharing an update about the weather conditions via X, wrote, “Over the track PA, they said lightning within one mile of the speedway.” In case the rain shower and lightning tone down, the track officials will need somewhere around 45 minutes to get the racetrack dry. The Truck race will need to run the halfway point (125 laps) of its original length to be deemed an official event.
Furthermore, the Truck Series race is a points event and therefore would be prioritized over the heats races that are scheduled later in the day. Given that the weather has shown no mercy towards the NASCAR races this afternoon, it is hard to see the heats race go ahead as planned. Perhaps there could be more changes to the schedule.
Rain has stopped for the moment. Still hear thunder. Working on drying track. Believe the goal would be want to get truck race in. How late they’d be willing to start all-star heats I don’t know. pic.twitter.com/SufuPtCF9A
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 18, 2024
Fans have been frustrated with the weather that has tormented the racing action on the historic short track. Many of them took to Reddit and expressed their discontent against the turbulent weather conditions.
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Fans react to rain delays for the Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro
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Sarcastically taking accountability, and cursing the Truck Series race at the same time, a user wrote, “It’s my fault I just showed up”.
Fans were also looking for options to get rid of the rain delay. Some even suggested the use of vortex theory which was famously believed by Darrell Waltrip. “D*mnit we need the vortex theory keep em running!”
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While rains are bad, lightning strikes are worse as they add a 30-minute delay to get the race restart. “Ah. That sucks worse than rain delays”.
One fan looked to make the most of these delays in getting freshened up. He added, “Welp, lightning. Hopefully that delays it long enough for me to shower and not miss anything”.