Misty, drizzling day forces Texas race to be postponed

FORT WORTH, Texas — NASCAR’s Cup playoff race in Texas was postponed Sunday night after 52 laps on a misty day that slowly deteriorated to drizzle while it never actually rained before the event was called off

The delay was just over four hours, and the restart planned for Monday morning. But the forecast isn’t promising with a 90% chance of rain overnight and the forecast high temperature barely reaching 50 degrees.

The pandemic-reduced crowd watched Clint Bowyer emerge as the leader with Jimmie Johnson second in the last Texas race as full-time drivers for both veterans.

The cars kept running for eight laps after the weather caution first came out as jet dryers circled the track. The cars sat uncovered on pit

road for about half and hour before the tarps came out and the drivers and crews headed for cover.

It was fitting that Bowyer and the seven-time series champion Johnson were leading when the race was stopped. Both were honored before the race, with victory lane being named after Johnson. His seven Texas wins are the most on the 11⁄ mile, high-banked tri oval.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott named Johnson an honorary Texan. The 45-year-old is planning to run part time in IndyCar next year.

The 41-year-old Bowyer, a 10-time winner in 16 Cup

seasons and twice a runnerup in Texas, plans to move into the broadcast booth next season.

“Jimmie and Clint are tremendous ambassadors of our sport, both on and off the track, so we wanted to

do something special for their final time here,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said.

Martin Truex Jr. was moved to the back of the field because of an illegal spoiler, and crew chief

James Small was ejected. But Truex, also fined $35,000 and docked 20 points in a blow to his championship outlook, was all the way up to fifth when the race was stopped.

Middletown native Joey Logano is the only driver guaranteed a spot in the final four after winning the first of three qualifying races last week in Kansas. The last qualifier in the round of eight is next week at Martinsville before the championship finale in Phoenix.

Kevin Harvick brushed the wall while leading on Lap 29 as the track conditions worsened and came away with some damage to his right side. But the No. 4 Ford was running when the 334-lap race was halted, one lap down in 36th.

Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. The race was halted 52 laps in due to inclement weather.

Brian Lawdermilk / Getty Images Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Skittles Zombie Toyota, and Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 32 Schluter Systems Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. The race was halted 52 laps in due to inclement weather.