Rain delays Kentucky Sprint Cup race until Sunday
SPARTA, Ky. -- The Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway was postponed Saturday night because of storms in the area and rescheduled for Sunday.
The 267-lap Sprint Cup race will now get the green flag at noon ET and will be broadcast live by TNT.
The race was scheduled to start at 7:45 ET Saturday night, but off-and-on rain showers during the afternoon and early evening forced NASCAR to make a decision shortly after 9 p.m. local time.
Several attempts were made to dry the track, but each time rain began falling again.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the pole in his bid to win his first race of 2013.
Sunday's race will be the third Sprint Cup event at Kentucky. Kyle Busch won the debut race in 2011 and Brian Keselowski took the checkered flag last year.
With only 10 races left until the Chase for the Championship begins, the Quaker State 400 is considered a key to determining the two wild-card qualifiers.
Heading into Sunday, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart are the only two drivers ranked in positions 11 through 20 with one win this season. Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard and Kurt Busch need a victory to improve their chances to make the Chase.
The 10 top drivers in the standings after the season's 26th race automatically qualify for the Chase. The final two spots go to the drivers with the most wins who are not part of the top 10, but they must be in the top 20 in the Sprint Cup standings to be eligible.
