Rain and thunderstorms rolled over the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s EchoPark venue on Sunday, forcing officials to pause the NASCAR Cup Series event after a brief but intense bout of lightning.
Ryan Blaney, starting from pole position, took control early and captured Stage 1, showcasing the speed that had earned him the front‑row start.
A Stormy Start to the Quaker State 400
However, the weather turned severe, and after 109 laps the race was halted due to lightning, leaving the field scattered and the competition suspended.
During the chaos, Carson Hocevar surged past Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson to take the lead at lap 82, while Riley Herbst was penalized for speeding on pit road and was forced to start at the rear of the field.
Tyler Reddick, having climbed to fourth by lap 40, pressed hard in the final five laps of the stage, engaging Blaney in a close battle before the stoppage.
Brad Keselowski brushed the wall and sank back to 36th place, illustrating how quickly fortunes can shift on a wet track.
The event forms part of the series’ in‑season challenge tournament, a format that pairs drivers in matchups that affect playoff points, and will be televised nationally on TNT with a streaming option on HBO Max.