NASCAR has elected to bring forward the start of Sunday’s Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, moving the green flag from the traditional 3 p.m. Eastern slot to 1 p.m. ET.
Early start aims to outrun approaching storms
The change comes as meteorologists predict a 55 percent chance of precipitation in the afternoon, with heavy thunderstorms and rain likely to develop after 5 p.m. ET. By shifting the race two hours earlier, officials hope to complete the 400‑mile contest before the worst of the weather arrives.
This is not the first time Pocono’s weather has intervened. In 2025, a sudden morning deluge forced a two‑hour postponement, but NASCAR managed to dry the track and still finish the race. The series has learned from that experience and is now taking pre‑emptive steps.
Weekend schedule reshaped
Friday’s ARCA Menards Series race ran on schedule, and Saturday’s forecast called for clear conditions. Sunday’s practice and qualifying sessions will now kick off at 1 p.m. ET, also streamed on Prime Video, giving teams a compact window to prepare.
When the lights finally go out, the race will be carried live by Prime Video, alongside MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, ensuring fans across multiple platforms can follow the action.