Quaker State 400 Postponed Until Sunday Due to Rain

NASCAR's Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway has been postponed until noon on Sunday due to rain.

Sporting News' Bob Pockrass broke the news on Saturday:

As USA Today's Jeff Gluck reported, the action never even got underway due to heavy rain showers and scattered thunderstorms, which occurred in the afternoon and evening. The first wave of heavy precipitation hit at 3 p.m., followed by another downpour at 5 p.m.

Even the best efforts of jet dryers to absorb all the precipitation from the soaked track were in vain, as another cell came into the Sparta area and pushed back the starting time once again.

Gluck notes that it takes about two hours to completely dry Kentucky Speedway, and that the Nationwide Series event on Friday was stopped 30 laps short, with Brad Keselowski being declared the winner.

Keselowski is the defending Sprint Cup champion driver and also won the Quaker State 400 in 2012. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. occupies the pole position, while inaugural race winner Kyle Busch is in fourth and Keselowski is in eighth.

Four-time Driver of the Year and current Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson starts in third, while Carl Edwards is just behind Earnhardt.

This is a star-studded race and an exciting recent addition to the NASCAR events, so it's unfortunate that Mother Nature forced it to be rescheduled. However, racing fans will still be enthusiastic in support on Sunday, and the delay at least enhances the safety of the drivers.

Note: Statistics and information are courtesy of NASCAR.com.