NASCAR at Chicago weather updates: Grant Park 220 threatened by rain, flash floods in murky forecast

07-02-2023
5 min read
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Rain on your Fourth of July parades.

Mother Nature threw a wrench into Saturday's Xfinity race in Chicago, with the resumption getting underway on Sunday morning. That weather may wreak havoc on the Grant Park 220 later in the afternoon.

MORE: Follow for live updates, highlights and more from the rain-soaked Grant Park 220

Green flag is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET, but the current forecast in the Chicagoland area isn't entirely pretty leading up to race time. NASCAR will likely want to do everything possible to get the race in, considering it's a street course, even if it is a bit wet. 

MORE: What time does the NASCAR race start today?

Here's the latest on the weather threatening today's race in Chicago (all times are Eastern):

NASCAR at Chicago weather updates

6:16 p.m.: And after all that, the race is getting underway. Bears QB Justin Fields gives the drivers the OK to start their engines, and we're going racing.

5:57 p.m.: The rain has let up enough, and drivers are heading to their cars. This could make for a messy, wreck-y, race if they get green flagged. Most drivers seem to be out of racing overalls, so it may be a bit before the race gets underway.

5:33 p.m.: Drivers continue to walk back to their haulers, so it seems like we're getting closer and closer to a postponement. Rain continues to fall in the Chicagoland area.

5:07 p.m.: A new record for rainfall on July 2 in Chicago has been set. The start of the race has been delayed.

4:55 p.m.: Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass reports that drivers may return to their haulers. A delay seems inevitable at minimum, but it's unclear how long.

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4:45 p.m.: Opening ceremonies are complete, but drivers are moving into a hold because of track conditions. They're going to race on wets if and when the race gets underway. There are still a flash flood warning in effect.

4:24 p.m.: Teams are being advised that the race will start at 5:05 p.m. despite flash flood warnings in effect around the area. So, it looks as though this one is on as scheduled. Teams will switch to wet tires.

3:20 p.m.: Rain continues to fall, but it is lightening up. The conditions should allow the race to start on time, though it may be a bit wet.

2:50 p.m.: At current time, the race is still scheduled for 5:05 p.m. with rain looking like it will avoid the area for at least a window.

2:22 p.m.: The garages are being worked on ahead of race start, scheduled for 5 p.m. 

1:30 p.m.: NASCAR called the Xfinity race, declaring Cole Custer the winner in an unprecedented decision. They're shifting to Cup Series operations, hoping to clean up and dry out the track ahead of 5 p.m. green flag.

1:06 p.m.: There's still no word on the status of the Xfinity race, per Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass. Green flag for the Cup Series race scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The Xfinity race needs two laps to become official. Weather radar in the area doesn't look pretty.

12:34 p.m.: Rain continues to fall in the Chicago area, with no word on a potential restart for the Loop 121 Xfinity race. Rain is expected to through around 3 p.m. NASCAR officials are currently working on removing standing water from the track.

Chicago weather forecast

According to Weather.com, there's a flash flood warning in effect until 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT). An additional 1-to-3 inches of rain could fall through the remainder of the storm window. In some areas, up to a half foot of rain has already fallen. Rain is in the forecast through at least 7 p.m. ET.

Temperatures sit in the mid-to-high 60s.