Weather could be a factor in Sunday's Texas Chase race

Editor’s note: This story was update at 11:30 a.m.

The weather could be a factor Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, which plays host to the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 2 p.m. ET.

As of 11:30 a.m. ET, weather.com is calling for cloudy weather at the start of the second of three races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 8.

But by 4 pm. ET, scattered thunderstorms are expected to begin and continue throughout the rest of the afternoon. Weather.com is calling for a 60 percent chance of rain at 4 p.m. ET, falling to 35 percent one hour later.

There should be plenty of time for the race to get to the halfway point, after which the race becomes official. And Texas Motor Speedway does have lights, so if rain holds up the action temporarily, the field could conceivably race deep into the night.

Austin Dillon starts on the pole today at Texas.

With Jimmie Johnson having won last week at Martinsville Speedway, seven drivers are left fighting for the final three spots in the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson’s victory means he’s locked into the final race, regardless of what happens today and next week at Phoenix International Raceway.