NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta weather delay update, lightning hold and rain
Updated July 12, 2026, 10:41 p.m. CT
UPDATE: The red flag was lifted at 11:37 p.m. ET/10:37 p.m. CT, after more than a three-hour delay.
The Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta is under a red flag for lightning and rain after 109 laps.
The race was halted under a lightning hold at 8:25 p.m. Eastern/7:25 p.m. Central, with a storm cell near the track in Hampton, Georgia.
No rain had fallen at the time of the red flag, but did fall a few minutes after the race was paused.
Despite a dicey weather forecast, the race began on time just after 7:15 p.m. Eastern.
Ryan Blaney is the leader.
The race will be considered official after 130 completed laps.
If this race is delayed into July 13, the National Weather Service forecast calls for similar conditions with rain chances hovering between 50-70% from mid-morning through the evening.
Red flag lifted at 11:37 p.m. ET; NASCAR makes it clear they will run full race distance
The red flag has been lifted at 11:37 p.m. ET/10:37 p.m. CT.
NASCAR reminds teams that they will be running the full distance tonight with the dry track, lights and a clearing radar.
NASCAR officials radio: Drivers to their cars at 11:15 p.m. ET/10:15 p.m. CT
Track drying continues, according to the NASCAR officials radio, with drivers to their cars at 11:15 p.m. ET/10:15 p.m. CT.
NASCAR aiming for 11:45 p.m. ET/10:45 p.m. CT start time
From NASCAR:
Lightning hold lifted; NASCAR will start track drying
8:10 p.m. Central: The lightning hold has been lifted, so NASCAR will start the track-drying process. That will take at least 90-120 minutes. Rain continues to linger from the west.
Rain has washed out the track
Heavy rain was falling at Atlanta as of 7:40 p.m. Central, and the track has been completely lost. NASCAR will have to do a full track drying if and when the lightning and rain moves away.
This story will be updated.
