Hurricane Debby postpones CARS Tour race, could impact NASCAR weekend at Richmond

This Friday’s CARS Tour race at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina, has been postponed to the following week on Aug. 16, Matt Weaver of Short Track Scene reported Tuesday. The race was postponed due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Debby, which could also have an effect on the NASCAR weekend at Richmond.

Debby, which made landfall Monday morning on Florida’s Big Bend, is currently crawling across southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina. It is expected to then make its way through southeast North Carolina on Friday.

“Debby is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches, with maximum amounts of 25 inches, bringing areas of catastrophic flooding across portions of southeast Georgia, the eastern half of South Carolina, and southeast North Carolina through Friday,” the National Hurricane Center said, via CBS News. “From northern North Carolina through portions of the Mid-Atlantic States, 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with local amounts to 12 inches, are expected through Sunday morning. This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with river flooding possible.” 

“On the forecast track,” forecasters continued, “the center of Debby is expected to move offshore the coast of Georgia later today, drift offshore through early Thursday, and then move inland over South Carolina on Thursday.”

NASCAR weekend at Richmond facing threat from Hurricane Debby

The Clean Harbors 250 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race is currently scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Cup Series’ Cook Out 400, meanwhile, has a 6:00 p.m. start time on Sunday. Barring any EMS concerns, Bob Pockrass FOX Sports doesn’t envision Debby impacting the on-track status of either race. The current forecast calls for a 40% chance of rain Saturday, and a 20% chance on Sunday.