Phoenix Raceway Weather Update: Arizona Narrowly Escapes Inclement Weather After Massive Thunderstorm Scare

Now that the 2024 NASCAR season is well underway, teams were hoping to stabilize as they entered the fourth round at Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500. However, it seemed like the weekend was preparing to throw yet another curveball at the teams as clouds began to block out the shining sun over Arizona. Fortunately, it would appear the rain deities have been merciful this time around, and the weekend should proceed without any hiccups.

After persevering through a hailstorm, fans breathe a sigh of relief as the weather clears above Phoenix Raceway

Only a few hours ago, the situation over Phoenix, Arizona was getting gloomier by the minute, with forecasts of thunderstorms and lighting striking fear in the NASCAR Community surrounding delays to the weekend. After the 2024 Daytona 500 got postponed because of similar weather concerns, the officials were taking every step to ensure fans were in the loop with the situation.

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What was supposed to be a weekend in the desert for the top Cup drivers before moving over to the colder Bristol Motor Speedway turned out to be a chilly affair in the wee hours of Thursday. The official account of the Phoenix Raceway shared a cautionary note on X with the visitors, “Weather Alert: Thunderstorms & lightning are forecast for the Phoenix Raceway area. We advise you to secure items at campsites. Please take the necessary precautions. Please check back here for updates.”

It was also reported by 12NEWS that fans attending the weekend at Phoenix on Thursday were caught up in a hailstorm. In a video shared by the website, tents at the Avondale track were being pelted relentlessly by the hail, prompting the officials to put out a statement.

Fortunately, the weather has now cleared, with the weekend forecast revealing partly sunny conditions with temperatures ranging from 78 degrees to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Reflecting on the improved weather, the official X account of the Phoenix Raceway shared, “Weather update: Operations are resuming as normal!” As of right now, there are no major changes in the weather forecasted, which means the schedule should resume as intended.

With that said, it’s worth taking a look at the schedule to understand which race could be affected by an unpredictable weather change.

2024 Shriners Children’s 500 schedule

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While it’s unfortunate that we won’t get to see the Truck Series action play out this weekend, the Xfinity and Cup Series races are sure to be action-packed, with many expecting the tri-oval to be a turning point for their poor starts.

The weekend kicks off on Friday as the ARCA Menards Series opens its garage doors at 10  AM EST, followed by the Cup Garage between 2 PM and 12:30 AM while the Xfinity garages open between 3:30 and 8:30 PM.

The track action is set to begin at 3:30 PM EST for the ARCA practice (not broadcasted) and the qualifying at 4:30 PM.

Following the Menards Series, fans watching from home can join in on the Phoenix action at 5:05 PM for the Cup Practice and can end the day with the ARCA Menards 150 lap race at 8 PM.

Saturday is perhaps the most action-packed day, with Xfinity Series practice at 12:35 PM followed by the qualifying at 1:05 PM. This will be followed by the Cup Series qualifying at 2:10 PM. And to top it all off, the Xfinity Series race will take place at 4:30 PM EST.

The weekend shall conclude on Sunday with the Cup Series race beginning at 3:30 PM. Fans can watch most of the sessions on FS1 and Motor Racing Network whilst the race shall be broadcast on Fox.

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