This year’s St. Louis NASCAR Cup Series race is enjoying a hiatus.
The Enjoy Illinois 300 was halted early in Stage 1 on Sunday after lightning was detected within an eight-mile radius of WorldWide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., just east of St. Louis.
MORE: Live updates, highlights of St. Louis race
The race ran just five laps before the red flag was waved. Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney were jostling for the lead.
Rain hasn’t yet fallen on the track, although pop-up showers were materializing west of Gateway Motorsports Park. Each lightning strike forces a delay of at least 25 to 30 minutes.
Here’s what you need to know as NASCAR takes a pause:
MORE: Track location for Enjoy Illinois 300
Enjoy Illinois 300 weather updates
5:10 p.m.: Another lightning strike, another weather delay. This is getting ridiculous now.
just had another strike so another 30 minutes before getting going.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2023
4:35 p.m.: Another lightning strike pops up nearby. Expecting another, somewhat lengthy, delay.
4:15 p.m.: No rain at the track, but pop-up storms are firing up a few miles away.
Another strike just at the edge of the 8-mile radius … pic.twitter.com/TBomsigP9N
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2023
These pop-up storms have been to the north so far. pic.twitter.com/H4Y6rvuW5s
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2023
3:55 p.m.: NASCAR announced that the lightning was four miles away.
3:50 p.m.: Red flag comes out as lightning rips through sky a few miles from the track.
Lightning within the area.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2023