Rain threatens Sunday’s NASCAR race at Fontana

Rain was forecast for Fontana on Sunday, but there was no immediate scheduling change by NASCAR for its Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway.

The Auto Club 400 was set to begin at noon PDT but weather forecasts called for various amounts of rain throughout Sunday.

“We won’t make a decision until [Sunday] morning” on whether to delay the race or otherwise alter its starting time, NASCAR spokeswoman Kristi King said Saturday as the Cup drivers held the first of two scheduled practice sessions.

NASCAR stock cars run on slick tires so their tracks, such as the two-mile Fontana oval, must be dry for racing.

If it does rain, King said NASCAR “will do everything they can to get the race in” for the spectators and race teams, especially because Auto Club Speedway has lights for night racing. NASCAR estimated that 88,000 people attended last year’s race.

In February 2008, the race was delayed into the night by rain and finally had to be completed the next day, with Carl Edwards taking the checkered flag.

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Rain threatens Sunday’s NASCAR race at Fontana