Thunderstorms, rain threaten on-track activity at Martinsville

The opening of the grandstands was delayed at Martinsville Speedway because of lightning in the area on Friday morning, as persistent rain and thunderstorms threatened all on-track NASCAR activities at the Virginia short track.

But as of 11:30 a.m ET, the rain had stopped and jet dryers were on the track. NASCAR said that it hoped to hold the day's first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at noon, 30 minutes later than originally scheduled. Cup qualifying, originally scheduled for 4:35 p.m., now is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET. Both will be televised on FS1.

The Weather.com forecast that earlier called for scattered thunderstorms -- a few of them possibly severe -- was looking better when updated by late morning.

Even though patches of blue skies were over the track by noon, it still was calling for a 70-percent chain of rain between 1 and 2 p.m. ET, down to 60 percent by 3 p.m., 45 percent by 4 p.m. and down to zero percent from 5 p.m. on.

Martinsville recently installed lights, but has not yet held any on-track NASCAR activities under them.

NASCAR officials also said they still hope to get in an afternoon Camping World Truck Series practice, which also will be televised on FS1.

The Alpha Energy Solutions 250 Truck Series race is slated for Saturday, with pre-race coverage beginning on FOX at 2:30 p.m. and the green flag to wave at approximately 3 p.m. ET. The STP 500 Monster Energy Cup race is scheduled for Sunday, with pre-race coverage beginning on FS1 at 12:30 and the green flag set to wave shortly after 2 p.m. ET.

FOXSports.com will continue to update this story as it develops.

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