Matthew forces NASCAR to reset docket in Charlotte
CONCORD, N.C. — For most NASCAR drivers, news that Saturday night’s Sprint Cup playoff race was postponed until Sunday could have been worse.
They could have been anywhere else but Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“It’s easier with the rain and weather, because this is where so many drivers live,” Brad Keselowski said. “If there’s one to do it, this is it.”
The race, which was rescheduled for 11 a.m. CDT Sunday, was postponed because of inclement conditions generated by Hurricane Matthew. The Sprint Cup race will be followed by the Xfinity race, which was postponed from Friday. Kyle Larson will be out front for the start of the Xfinity race.
This is the second consecutive weekend there will be a Sprint Cup-Xfinity doubleheader. Last week’s scheduled Xfinity race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware was rained out Saturday and run Sunday before the Cup race.
“Wet weekends, you can get sluggish and (gain) like 100 pounds eating,” Keselowski said. “You can forget to take care of yourself. You can tighten up. But that’s part of being a race car driver.”
Keselowski said his No. 2 Ford already is set up for Sunday. Because of the likelihood of the rain and a potential postponement, he practiced and qualified Friday in race trim.
“So I think we’re going to be fine in that capacity,” said Keselowski, who will start 20th.
Kevin Harvick will start on the pole, and Alex Bow- man will start second as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s replacement driver.
Earnhardt’s time on the sideline has given Bowman, 23, a shot to shine in spectacular equipment.
He was 10th at Chicago in Earnhardt’s car and 14th two weeks ago at New Hampshire. Now he will start a career-best second on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Bowman has no problems waiting an extra day.
He had no Sprint Cup plans whatsoever this season until Earnhardt suffered a concussion. Now, Bowman is splitting time in Earnhardt’s car with Jeff Gordon, and what was thought to be a one-race substitution has turned into 10 races with one of the top organizations in NASCAR.