DOVER − The NASCAR Cup Series race at AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway was delayed by rain with 14 laps remaining on July 20.
The delay lasted 56 minutes as a storm moved quickly through the area. NASCAR officials set a drop-dead time of 8:10 p.m. because Dover doesn’t have lights at the racetrack.
Denny Hamlin was in the lead when racing was halted after 386 laps. He was clinging to a slim lead over Christopher Bell as the two went back and forth ever since a restart on Lap 343. With the weather growing ominous, Bell kept trying to pass Hamlin, who managed to hold him off.
Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.
Ross Chastain crashed on Lap 383 bringing out the caution flag. As the yellow flag was up, the rain started, causing the race to stop. Soon after, the rain stopped, and the sun reappeared. Then it became a question of how quickly officials can dry the track at the high-banked oval at The Monster Mile.
When they did resume, there was plenty of time left to finish the final 14 laps.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
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