NASCAR has moved the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice and qualifying sessions at Charlotte Motor Speedway to earlier on Saturday as Hurricane Isaias approaches the southeastern United States. Practice will now start at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, followed by qualifying at 9:35 a.m., both two hours ahead of the original schedule. The decision aims to give teams a chance to run before weather conditions potentially worsen.
Despite the earlier start for practice and qualifying, the Blue Cross NC 300 race remains set for 4 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. The race will be broadcast live on The CW, allowing fans to watch the series compete on Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval.
The NASCAR Cup Series schedule has also shifted in response to the weather threat. Cup practice is scheduled for 11 a.m., with Busch Light Pole Qualifying set to follow at 12:05 p.m. Eastern. Officials are closely monitoring the storm’s progress, adjusting timing to ensure as much racing as possible can be completed safely.
Charlotte Motor Speedway is hosting all three of NASCAR’s national series this weekend. The Craftsman Truck Series raced Friday evening, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series runs Saturday, and the Cup Series concludes the weekend Sunday with the Bank of America 400. The weather poses a challenge for drivers, teams, and fans across the packed schedule.
For the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams, the earlier sessions mean a faster start to Saturday, requiring crews to prepare cars and strategies on a tighter timeline. The series is in the midst of its Chase postseason, so every session on the track carries weight for championship hopes.
NASCAR’s officials have said they will continue to evaluate conditions and adjust the schedule further if necessary as Hurricane Isaias approaches. The move to bring practice and qualifying forward could provide more flexibility should the weather worsen later in the day.
According to Yahoo Sports.