By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Faced with heavier than expected snowfall on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, NASCAR officials have postponed Sunday’s scheduled STP 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race and the resumption of the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race until Monday.
The STP 500 has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, following the completion of the Truck Series event, which was halted on Saturday after 23 laps by rain that later turned to snow as a storm moved into southern Virginia. The Alpha Energy Solutions 250 will restart at 11 a.m. with pole winner Ben Rhodes as the leader.
Both races will be broadcast on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell discussed the decision in a Twitter post on Sunday morning.
“Way more snow than anticipated last night-Met with track/local authorities this morning-resources need to be dedicated to local community-roads-trees down, etc.” O’Donnell tweeted. “We’ll put on a great day of @NASCAR Monday.#doubleheaderAlways a tough call but the right one in this case.”
Saturday’s scheduled qualifying session for the STP 500 was cancelled because of rain, putting Monster Energy Cup Series leader and defending champion Martin Truex Jr. on the pole, with the field ordered according to owner points.
