NASCAR Cup Atlanta race halted by lightning and rain

The NASCAR Cup race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta was stopped after 108 of the 260 laps had been completed due to lightning and rain. Just before the halfway point, a lightning strike occurred within eight miles of the speedway, which prompted NASCAR to red flag the race and bring all 38 cars down pit road.

Following the initial stoppage, there was a wait of over three hours as drivers exited their vehicles and weather conditions worsened. Rain began to fall shortly after the cars were stopped, intensifying with time. At 11:38 PM local time, the engines were re-fired and the race resumed shortly after midnight.

When the race was halted, Ryan Blaney was leading, followed by Bubba Wallace in second, Tyler Reddick in third, Christopher Bell in fourth, and Chase Elliott in fifth. The race needed to reach lap 131 to be considered official, marking the halfway point.

Despite the delays, Blaney expressed confidence, stating he learned a lot about his car's performance and made necessary adjustments during the first stage of the race. He noted his strategy was to aim to regain the lead as soon as possible.

The caution period provided an opportunity for Ross Chastain to receive the free pass, allowing 31 cars to get back on the lead lap. Championship leader Denny Hamlin was running 15th during the stoppage. As the race continued, all teams prepared for a pit stop for fuel and tires once the race resumed, as many were close to finishing their fuel stint before the yellow flag came out.