NASCAR has just announced that all activity at the Talladega Superspeedway has been cancelled. Lines of severe storms with tornado activity have been in the area and more are approaching.
You can use weatherunderground.com to view the radar for the Birmingham, AL area. Talladega is located off I-20 between Birmingham and Atlanta, GA.
The Sprint Cup Series race is now scheduled for 1PM ET and the Nationwide Series race will follow at approximately 4:30PM. We will add the adjusted TV schedule as the network releases the information.
Updated 10:15AM - Nationwide Series race has now been moved to ESPN on Sunday at approximately 4:30PM ET. (from Scenedaily.com's Bob Pockrass)
Updated 10:51AM - ESPN just advised they will air the NNS race at 5:30PM on ESPN2.
Updated 12:15PM - Threatening skies with weather in the area, but so far no severe weather over the speedway. Big storms have passed to the south with hail and high winds.
Thanks for stopping by and we hope for the best for those fans already at the track. You can add a comment by clicking on the comments button below.
40 comments:
Numerous tweets from the track indicate that all of today's activity is called off. The NNS race will roll immediately following the Cup race tomorrow.
The track has asked campers to take down their tents and get into their vehicles.
Sorry, I missed the header saying that all activity was cancelled. :(
I set my TV to turn on this morning at 10, and I generally have it set to come on with the Weather Channel, very first thing I noticed them say was that everything's canceled today at Talladega. Nice to see them keeping up with that.
This was a good decision for all concerned. I follow severe weather just as much as racing and I have not seen so much strong language used by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center in at least three years.
To all of our fellow Planeteers in the affected area...stay safe, be prepared, and let's all hope for an unforeseen blast of cold air to come down and diffuse these storms.
Dave, I changed it once I got the note from NASCAR! Hope everyone stays safe, these storms are supposed to hang around all day.
NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass is now updating that the Nationwide Series race, moved to Sunday at approximately 4:30PM ET will be carried on ESPN2.
I'm so glad they did this for the fans, news crews, teams etc. Good call.
It will be real interesting how the logistics of a Cup & Nationwide race is accomplished back to back on a Sunday. Takes us a long time to get out(read a couple hours-and three at Charlotte one night). Not sure where the Nationwide fans will park.
Its good to know everything was canceled early & the track is getting the word out. Now if NASCAR.com would update the info. on their main page...
I hope everyone stays safe -for the first time I'm glad I'm not there. RV & severe weather is not fun.
During the delay, ISC just announced they are repaving Daytona after the July race.
I hope Talladega is telling campers to take their tents down, get in their vehicles and get to a permanent building. A car is not a safe place in severe weather.
They have a real problem on their hands. Lots of folks in harm's way if things get ugly.
Are they clearing out the campers in the infield and all the campsites around the field? That's a lot of folks real open to a real danger if this gets on the bad side. Where will they go?
Said most people are leaving. Some folks like drivers and families are stuck there in buses.
AJ Allmendinger's wife said security is knocking on the bus doors to get folks out.
Just been told by ESPN that the NNS race wil be at 5:30PM on ESPN2.
Jim Hunter's on the weather channel...two races for one if you only had one ticket....said they're warning everyone to keep up with radio etc.
I'm a bit slow here - but SPEED is not going to try to do a rain delay type show are they? I'm hoping a replay of something with a crawl - no people at the track.
I hope everyone stays safe. My mom lives in Mississippi, so she is expecting severe weather as well.Would be nice if NASCAR went to qualifying on Friday, and quit worrying about television coverage(i.e. two cars, then commercial, two cars, then commercial, etc.)It shouldn't take two hours to do qualifying.48 seconds to go around the track. Do it like a local short track. If you can send one car out of the pits while the first one is on his cool down lap, then you can do it non-stop all day. That would put it at about an hour or so, depending on the track.
Jo, RaceDay will be on as scheduled on Sunday. There is nothing at the track today. Most folks are in hotels in Birmingham.
@DalyPlanetEditor
Thanks I was hoping no one was there.
The TV crews are back at the hotels, the teams are either back or headed that way. Drivers are either gone or holding the fort in their buses in the infield.
Sorry for the moderation, trolls are out.
(jd, hope you're ok with this: if not, feel free to delete but since she's posted here today, i thought it'd be a good link for planeteers!)
for those who haven't read it yet: this is great time to check out the blog from dr diandra at www.buildingspeed.org/blog/
great overview of what's happening weather-wise at 'dega today. (plus, it's a great site to bookmark and check regularly fo all things related to the sciences of nascar! i am a BIG fan of dr diandra's work!)
Even if no severe weather hits, Nascar is doing the right thing.
Agree JohnP! This is a better safe than sorry situation! Rain is one thing but tornadoes is nothing you play with. Hopefully nothing will touch down in the area but would rather have them deal with a couple of thousand campers than 50K+ folks if things do get nasty.
I know TMS has several places folks can go if a tornado came through during a race weekend not sure what 'Dega has. Hadn't heard anyone mention it in what I saw yesterday
Wow, I just came back in the house and saw your headline. Over on Fridays' blog, one of the Anon's posted about making it a double-header on Sunday -- looks like that's whats going to happen.
NASCAR is smart to do this - better to be safe than sorry.
@Red. Thanks ;-)
Hope all at the track are following her tips!
Had a few experiences when attending the INDY 500. Scary.
Thankfully here on the southeast side of Houston the bad weather for the most part passed us by.
It rained some Friday morning and was then overcast. It might of rained some during the night - or I might of dreamed something about rain.
This morining is bright and sunny, which should be good for getting all the racing in tomorrow.
ESPN actually cut a fresh promo for the Nationwide race 5:30 tomorrow on ESPN2.
The promo is airing during the NFL draft.
Any idea what ABC might use for rain-fill?
No official info on that. I would expect either a repeat of the new afternoon sports program they have been airing or a return of the time to the local stations.
Great updates guys. Thanks a lot. The daily planet link on my moblie phone is just abou the coolest thing. Stay safe down in Bama.
Ann, we are in Spring Branch area of Houston and it's a beautiful day here in Houston! Good chance for everyone to see some good racin' and broadcast of the Rolex Sports Car Series race from Virginina on Speed.
ABC is showing a repeat of last Monday's Texas NW race.
They did a shot of an infield with lots of campers while Alan talked about the race being cancelled and what they were showing. They made it sound like it was a live shot from Talledega. I hope not!! It was a clear day with a full lot of campers!! Maybe the shot was from Texas and just Alan's voice was live.
And yes, Vicki, it is a beautiful day in the neigborhood here in Clear Lake!!
Bestwick tweeted early this morning that he was at ATL airport. He didn't say where he was flying to though. Does anyone know if they had tornadoes at the track today?
I just read that there was flooding in Birmingham...so it's likely it rained hard. And the tornado watch continues until 9pm (plus there's more rain coming.)
HUH???
OK, I admit I just watched a lap or two after my previous comment and then changed the channel and did other things.
I just switched back to ABC and what they are showing is BRISTOL, baby!!
Are they just showing highlights from several NW races?
Or am I going crazy??!!
Yes Ann, they did. No rule on that.
Anon: NASCAR.com is the source for live online video of anything NASCAR.
hmmmmmmmmm.....Allen just tweeted that he made it to Beantown and we'll see him on TV Monday.
nevermind my above comment wasn't thinking about the limited daylight glad I have people to think for me :). I was sad no Allen after a long weekend. Still sad but not as sad :)
Hey, Red. I liked the advice in that blog you suggested. Good advice in it for anyone going to an outoor event since "weather" can happen any time.
My affiliate (KAYU-TV in Spokane) will air informercials in place of the prerace show.
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