MARTINSVILLE, Va. – For the second night in a row at Martinsville Speedway, rain interrupted the proceedings, this time postponing the conclusion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series CookOut 250 to Sunday.
A drizzle that later strengthened into a full-on downpour stopped racing at the .526-mile paper clip at 9:34 p.m. ET Friday, with 91 laps completed before a storm front washed out the balance of the race.
The remaining 159 laps will pick up Sunday afternoon at noon ET, live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM. Saturday’s forecast for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville appears bleak, at best, with rain chances for much of the day.
Polesitter Harrison Burton led the first 52 laps from the pole, but pitted for fresh tires shortly before the end of the first 60-lap stage and ceded command of the field to Noah Gragson.
Gragson went on to collect the stage win, then pitted himself during the stage break, which allowed Brett Moffitt to lead seven laps before Brandon Jones charged to the point on lap 71 shortly after the green flag waved to begin stage two.
Jones was then hounded by Tennessee short-track ace Josh Berry, who eventually worked past him on the inside of turns three and four, to lead 10 laps before Jones returned the favor on lap 88.
One lap after Jones retook the lead, the caution was displayed for rain, with NASCAR officials bringing the field down pit road and stopping the action with 91 of the scheduled 250 laps complete.
Track drying was attempted for nearly two hours before the remainder of the race was officially postponed just after midnight ET Saturday morning.
When racing is able to resume, Jones will be the leader over Berry, Daniel Hemric, Moffitt and Jeb Burton. Harrison Burton is seventh, while defending series champion Austin Cindric is eighth.
Six cautions for a combined 30 laps slowed the pace prior to the rain moving in Friday night.