NASCAR: Rain delay in Phoenix

A crew member works the water off of pit lane

Rain has delayed the start of Sunday's Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM), putting the next-to-last race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs on hold.

Rain began falling around 1:25 p.m. ET at Phoenix International Raceway, which underwent a ceremonial race-day name change to Jeff Gordon Raceway to honor the four-time series champion. A fleet of NASCAR Air Titan track dryers began circulating the 1-mile track approximately 20 minutes later as precipitation began to taper off.

Due to the delayed start, the race will move to NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET.

Race officials have seven Air Titans; six conventional jet dryers and two vacuum trucks to assist with the drying process. The track has lights in case of an extended delay. A competition caution yellow will be called at Lap 40.

There was been just one rain-shortened race among the 38 premier-series events in the track's history. NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace prevailed here in October 1998 in a race cut from 312 to 257 laps.

The 312-mile event is the last of three races in the Eliminator Round, which will determine the four drivers eligible for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crown in next Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gordon is already locked in the Championship 4 with his win at Martinsville Speedway two weekends ago.

Jimmie Johnson, a four-time Phoenix winner, will start from the first position after claiming the Coors Light Pole Award in Friday qualifying.

Starting positions for the remaining Chase-eligible drivers: Kurt Busch, 2nd; Carl Edwards, 4th; Martin Truex Jr., 5th; Kevin Harvick, 8th; Kyle Busch, 10th; Gordon, 11th; Joey Logano, 14th; Brad Keselowski, 18th.