Start of NASCAR Cup race at Pocono delayed by rain

Rain is preventing NASCAR's Cup race at Pocono from starting on time

Originally, the race was set to go green a 2:20 pm EST., but lightning and rain is ensuring that won't happen. Track drying is underway around the large 2.5-mile speedway and as of 1:30 pm EST, the lightning hold was lifted. Per NASCAR guidelines, any lightning strike within eight miles of the track will result in an automatic 30-minute hold.

NASCAR has said that they plan to hold driver introductions at 3:50pm EST, followed by the command to start engines at 4:19pm EST. and the green flag at 4:30pm EST. -- over two hours after the scheduled start.

UPDATE: The weather eventually cleared up and the 400-mile race finally went green at 4:32pm EST

Pocono does not have lights and unfortunately, inclement weather is not entirely uncommon for this event. Despite this, a Cup race at Pocono hasn't been pushed to Monday since 2016, which ended up being shortened due to fog anyway, resulting in Chris Buescher's first career win.

When this event does get underway, Buescher will start on the outside of the front row with Denny Hamlin on pole. Hamlin has seven wins at Pocono -- more than any other driver. He also missed the most recent Cup race at Mexico City due to the birth of his son, Jameson Drew Hamlin. The last time he was behind the wheel of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing was at Michigan, where he went to Victory Lane.

Connor Zilisch won Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity race at Pocono (his first on an oval) with Dale Earnhardt Jr. atop the pit box as his interim crew chief. In Friday's Truck race, Layne Riggs prevailed after a cut tire for Corey Heim and a restart violation for Carson Hocevar took them out of contention.

NASCAR has been surprisingly fortunate with rain this year as none of the first 16 rounds of the 2025 season were pushed to Monday. It remains to be seen if Pocono will end that streak, but the clock is ticking.