Cold Weather Impacts Racing Events in North Carolina

Mother Nature has made a dramatic visit to North Carolina, bringing with her a mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow that is impacting driving conditions from Saturday through Sunday night. This weather is creating a challenging environment for both drivers and fans as the state prepares for several high-profile racing events.

Upcoming NASCAR Events

In the coming week, the first event of the NASCAR season is set to take place on February 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cookout Clash. Additionally, the NASCAR Whelan Modified Series and Sportsman are scheduled to race on Saturday. These events are drawing attention from fans and participants alike, despite the cold temperatures expected during the weekend.

Forecasted Temperatures and Race Schedules

According to the forecast as of January 25, the temperatures for the Sunday events at Bowman Gray Stadium are expected to be quite low. The Last Chance Qualifying race is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET with a temperature of 28 degrees. By the time The Clash starts at 8 p.m., the temperature is expected to drop to 22 degrees.

On Saturday, the Modifieds will take to the track at 10:15 a.m. for a practice session, followed by another for the Sportsman. The Modifieds will then qualify with the Sportsman right after, with all sessions slated to wrap up by 12:15 p.m. The forecasted temperature for these sessions starts at 17 degrees and increases to 23 degrees by the end of the practice and qualifying sessions.

The Modifieds’ race is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. with 125 laps or 90 minutes, whichever comes first. Following that, the Sportsman race is set for 100 laps or 90 minutes at 2:45 p.m. The forecasted temperatures for both green flag times are 25 degrees, which is also the daytime high.

Later in the day, the NCS teams will take to the track at 6:15 p.m. for their only practice, followed by four heats to determine The Clash’s starting line-up and who goes to the Last Chance Qualifier on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to range from 22 degrees down to 19 during those events.

Continued Cold Weather on Sunday

Although there is no precipitation of a wintery mix, sleet, or snow like in Winston-Salem, the forecasted temperatures for Sunday are still below freezing. When the NCS hits the track at 6 p.m. for the LCQ, drivers and teams will face a 28-degree temperature. The Clash is scheduled to start at 8 p.m., with the forecasted temperature dropping to 24 degrees and a feel-like temperature of 19.

The LCQ is scheduled for 75 laps, while The Clash will have 200 green flag laps. Caution laps will not count towards the double-century total.

Tire Pressure Considerations

Bowman Gray Stadium is a 0.25-mile flat oval located in the football stadium for Winston-Salem State University. The cold temperatures, track conditions, and size of the oval could make it difficult for teams to achieve optimal grip and traction.

Goodyear tires are known to react better when they get warmed up after a few laps. However, the cold temps and track conditions may prolong this process, causing handling difficulties during transitions from straights to turns.

The open-wheel Modifieds and Sportsman cars are much lighter than their 3,330 lbs. NCS counterparts. With the Modifieds weighing a minimum of 2,600 lbs. and maximum of 2,645 lbs., there will be a significant degree of difficulty making the transition from the straightaways to the flat turns of BGS.

For the NCS teams, the decision of air pressures will play a huge factor for success between track conditions and the cold temps forecasted. Tire pressures are normally set low so heat can build up in the early laps and provide better grip under warmer conditions. However, the cold air and track temperatures will prolong that process and cause handling difficulty in the straights to turns transitions. Also, the weight of a Cup car on a flat track like BGS could cause tires to be cut by the rims they are mounted from low pressure settings.

Coverage of the Events

Fans can witness all the action from BGS on FloRacing for the Modifieds and Sportsman, FS1-TV for Saturday action and FOX-TV for The Clash on Sunday. MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR will have coverage.