For the first time since the Chase format was implemented, the first round of the play-off will be delayed to a Monday despite NASCAR's best efforts to get the race at least started on Sunday afternoon.
Nearly six hours after the scheduled starting time, officials decided to postpone the race as a slight drizzle turned into a heavy downpour, following hours of work from the track crews that almost had the circuit in race-ready condition following earlier rain.
The race has been rescheduled to 11am US local time in Chicagoland [Central Time]. There is still a 30 per cent chance of rain in the early hours of Monday but it decreases notably after that. Given the change in track conditions from the last time cars were on the track, a competition caution is expected to wave on lap 30 of the scheduled 267.
This year the first round of the play-off moved to Chicagoland Speedway after New Hampshire Motor Speedway staged the event in all previous Chase years. The Cup series has raced at the Joliet, Illinois track each year for the past 10, always during the summer in early July prior to this season.
