Persistent rain pushes resumption of Cup Series race at Texas to Wed. (Update)

NASCAR officials have postponed the completion of the Cup Series playoff race from Texas Motor Speedway for a third consecutive day because of continuing rain Tuesday.

The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 began Sunday, with drivers completing 52 of 334 laps before a light mist and drizzle escalated, forcing the event to be red-flagged. Nagging rain washed out Monday’s and Tuesday’s attempts to continue the race, pushing it to a Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET restart time (NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Track-drying progress had been made under chilly, damp conditions Tuesday at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth track, but morning rain scratched the proposed noon ET restart time. Mist and light rain intensified near 2 p.m. ET, stalling efforts to dry the speedway. Hope was renewed in the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET hours, but the return of light rain eventually halted a tentative 8:30 p.m. ET restart and forced race officials to postpone the race’s conclusion again.

Continuing rain has placed a Tuesday attempt at resuming the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race from Texas Motor Speedway on hold.

The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 began Sunday, with drivers completing 52 of 334 laps before a light mist and drizzle escalated, forcing the event to be halted.

Nagging rain washed out Monday’s attempts to continue the race, pushing it to a Tuesday, noon ET restart time (on NBCSN).

But that proposed schedule has been thwarted by the third straight day of inclement weather at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth track.