Rain may throw a wrench in 5-Hour Energy 500 race
Drivers cannot race in any type of moisture, but if the rain stops before the race, officials have ways of drying out the track, said Pocono Raceway Vice President Bob Pleban. The process involves driving 10 trucks mounted with jet packs around the 2.5 mile track.
If rain continues to the start of the 1 p.m. race, the event can be postponed up until 5 p.m., or will be moved to the next clear day.
Even if it's pouring, NASCAR will still have driver introductions and the national anthem at 12:30 p.m., Pleban said.
Pocono Raceway has hosted 67 NASCAR races, only three of which were rained out.
"So, the odds are on our side," Pleban said.
The National Weather Service predicts a 60 percent chance of rain today with a high of 82 degrees.
Showers are expected to start early with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day.