USA TODAY Sports' Mike Hembree previews the upcoming race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. USA TODAY Sports
After a delay of nearly 2½ hours, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway finally got underway at 3:32 p.m. ET.
The Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 was orginally scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET start but had been moved up one hour on Saturday in hopes of getting the race started before inclement weather hit the Hampton, Ga., track. However the rain came before drivers could strap into the cars for the new 1:06 p.m. green flag drop.
Jet dryers worked diligently on the Atlanta Motor Speedway asphalt to dry the track and get it in race condition. The 1.5-mile track needed to be dry before the race could underway.
A competition caution was scheduled for lap 30 so drivers could hit pit road and teams could examine tires.
Kyle Busch, who won the pole, and Ryan Newman will start on the front row.
The race is scheduled for 325 laps divided into three stages -- Stage 1: 85 laps, Stage 2: 85 laps, Stage 3: 155 laps. The race must reach the end of Stage 2 to be considered official. Should rain return and prevent the race from being official Sunday, NASCAR would resume the race on Monday.
