2018 Martinsville - STP 500 - Pre Race Thread

https://www.sbnation.com/nascar/201...speedway-weather-snow-nascar-weekend-forecast


Martinsville Speedway weather: SNOW in a NASCAR weekend forecast?

In 10 seasons of forecasting NASCAR weather, this may be the first time I’ve had to talk about significant accumulating snow for a race weekend. There have been a few early Martinsville race weekends where snow appeared before the race weekend, but I can’t recall looking at possible accumulation leading up to the main Cup event. The spring race in 2018, we are looking at the possibility of accumulating snow at Martinsville Speedway Saturday night into Sunday morning.

There are a lot of forecasts right now leading up to the weekend across Southern Virginia. There was one sent to me on Twitter showing 5 to 10 inches of snow for Martinsville. I will tell you I don’t see that much snow when I look at the weather.

I have a lot of experience forecasting snow, from my nearly two years in the Dakotas, eight years in the Great Lakes with lake effect snow, and now seven years in Idaho forecasting mountain snow. I feel confident about my ability to forecast snow in Southern Virginia. I’ve been working closely with my NASCAR weather colleague @RaceWeather on Twitter, meteorologist Aaron Studwell, and we agree that the snowfall potential Saturday night into Sunday for Martinsville Speedway is from a coating to maybe two inches.

Looking at the forecast data and comparing our information with the National Weather Service, the forecast feels pretty solid for late Saturday into Sunday morning. The good news is most of the snow ends during the morning Sunday and precipitation pushes out but it remains chilly with temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s.

Odds of racing the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series race on Sunday is around 60 percent with possible delays.

As for Saturday’s Cup practices and qualifying along with the Camping World Truck Series race, the odds are around 35 to 45 percent for Saturday’s on track activity. Odds start to drop as you get closer to Saturday evening and night. While not calling anything a wash, the truck race is looking like it could be in doubt. We will have updates as we get more information.

Friday is the best day of the weekend. While not all that warm, there will be sunshine and temperatures in the 50s.
 
I think it gets postponed. If the forecast is right and they are expecting 2-5 inches Saturday night the roads will not be ready Sunday morning. They should do the fans a favor and call it.
 
Spotter22 said:
I think it gets postponed. If the forecast is right and they are expecting 2-5 inches Saturday night the roads will not be ready Sunday morning. They should do the fans a favor and call it.
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And then move the race to mid-April next year. March is an atrocious date.
 
Nothing's even happened yet. Almost weekly people cry wolf on here about the weather. Yet, somehow NASCAR continues to put on an event each week. Whatever happens, happens. It's weather. We will survive and Martinsville will still be on the map on Monday. Monday looks good but cold. Worst that happens is that they race then.
 
Hey all! New to the forums and just wanted to say hi! Can’t wait for the race this weekend! I can see it being an exciting and intense race! I hope!
 
Spotter22 said:
I think it gets postponed. If the forecast is right and they are expecting 2-5 inches Saturday night the roads will not be ready Sunday morning. They should do the fans a favor and call it.
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Too early. They shouldn't make that decision before the sun comes up Sunday morning and they talk to the highway dept.
 
CatchKB said:
Hey all! New to the forums and just wanted to say hi! Can’t wait for the race this weekend! I can see it being an exciting and intense race! I hope!
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Welcome, new guy! Keep an eye out on race day for the live race discussion. Drinks will flow and blood will spill and if the boys wanna fight, you better let 'em!
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Too early. They shouldn't make that decision before the sun comes up Sunday morning and they talk to the highway dept.
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But you have to think of people who are making the trip from other states and cities. If it snows Sat night, the temps sunday really wont warm up enough to melt it and the roads will be a mess before and after. Just postpone it and run it Saturday of the open date
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Nothing's even happened yet. Almost weekly people cry wolf on here about the weather. Yet, somehow NASCAR continues to put on an event each week. Whatever happens, happens. It's weather. We will survive and Martinsville will still be on the map on Monday. Monday looks good but cold. Worst that happens is that they race then.
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Snow is different then rain concerning travel
 
2 Sweet said:
Well I'm driving from Ohio and I'm not letting a forecast stop me. I still think their prediction is far fetched
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Dammit. I'm moving this weekend otherwise I'd be making the drive from Tampa. We need to link up for an away race dude.
 
Spotter22 said:
But you have to think of people who are making the trip from other states and cities. If it snows Sat night, the temps sunday really wont warm up enough to melt it and the roads will be a mess before and after. Just postpone it and run it Saturday of the open date
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I'm traveling five hours myself. Weather happens. If those people feel unsafe, they can stay home or at the hotel. They'll eat the tickets just as much as the race is postponed until next week; they ain't coming back. I've seen Saturday night races at Charlotte that are postponed to Sunday and the place is still only a quarter full.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Nothing's even happened yet. Almost weekly people cry wolf on here about the weather. Yet, somehow NASCAR continues to put on an event each week. Whatever happens, happens. It's weather. We will survive and Martinsville will still be on the map on Monday. Monday looks good but cold. Worst that happens is that they race then.
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I'm grateful I don't live in Puerto Rico.

We all exist by the grace of Mother Nature. Putting up with her moods is a small price to pay for that.
 
CatchKB said:
Hey all! New to the forums and just wanted to say hi! Can’t wait for the race this weekend! I can see it being an exciting and intense race! I hope!
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Welcome. Your first post indicates an abundance of enthusiasm.

You're going to have to tone that down. :D
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I'm traveling five hours myself. Weather happens. If those people feel unsafe, they can stay home or at the hotel. They'll eat the tickets just as much as the race is postponed until next week; they ain't coming back. I've seen Saturday night races at Charlotte that are postponed to Sunday and the place is still only a quarter full.
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I disagree. Cancel it now and I guarantee you more people would be there on the open date and probably warmer
 
I would think they would run Monday if not able to Sunday. :idunno: They have done that in Atlanta, heck one year not too long ago, they ran it on Tuesday.

But, I hope the weather man is wrong and they get it in on time.:punkrocke
 
Opening day at Capitol Speedway in Willow, Alaska is May 26.
 
That area in Alaska is warmer many times over the winter than say the Great Lakes area, Dakotas, and the North East
 
StandOnIt said:
That area in Alaska is warmer many times over the winter than say the Great Lakes area, Dakotas, and the North East
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At one time this winter, Anchorage was warmer than here in Central Texas --- by about 15 degrees. The first time I was in Fairbanks, stepped off the plane to 80* and high humidity. Thought I was back in Houston.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I'm traveling five hours myself. Weather happens. If those people feel unsafe, they can stay home or at the hotel. They'll eat the tickets just as much as the race is postponed until next week; they ain't coming back. I've seen Saturday night races at Charlotte that are postponed to Sunday and the place is still only a quarter full.
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I'm feeling a bit uneasy about driving down. All it takes is one jacked knife trailer on 81 and an 8 hour trip turns into 14 hours because you're stranded on a highway. Or worse you get caught up in someone else's wreck/bad luck. This is a really dicey situation because it's snow. There is absolutely risk/hazard involved under these circumstances. You have out of towners who are not familiar with the roads/areas or perhaps even driving in winter conditions. It just sucks.
 
Spotter22 said:
Snow is different then rain concerning travel
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I live in Pennsylvania. I'm looking @ 3 inches of snow outside my window right now. Had much more on the ground/roads the past couple days. Long time season ticket holder of Bristol and Martinsville. I've towed my 5er to/from both Bristol & Martinsville for years through far worse conditions than I see them calling for. Many here seems like they are in a panic mode yet every single forecast that I see for the area is hardly calling for any accumulation.
 
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