A Tribute Interrupted by the Elements
Friday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway was supposed to mark the start of the NASCAR Truck Series race, but a sudden downpour forced officials to halt the event after an emotional pre‑race ceremony honoring the late Kyle Busch.
The 41‑year‑old NASCAR Cup star had been remembered on the track, with the No. 7 Spire Motorsports truck — normally bearing Kyle Busch Motorsports branding — left idle as the rain intensified.
Corey Day, who was slated to drive the truck, was already in the garage when the delay unfolded. After several hours of waiting, the vehicles were parked just past 7 p.m. EST, having completed no laps, as the series awaited a window free of precipitation.
Saturday’s Early Start
NASCAR ultimately called off the Friday attempt and moved the race to 8 a.m. EST on Saturday morning, giving teams a brief window to prepare before the green flag.
The rescheduled event will be carried live on FOX Sports 1, which will broadcast the action to viewers across the United States.
During the delay, several drivers took the opportunity to share personal stories of Kyle Busch, further memorializing the legend who died suddenly and tragically.
Fans gathered around the speedway, observing a moment of silence and paying tribute to the driver whose impact stretched beyond the track.