NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Sprint Cup race starts after more than an hour delay

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) The Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway has begun after an hour's delay due to bad weather.

The race was scheduled for 8 p.m., but never got underway as lightning, hail and rain surrounded the half-mile concrete track. Race teams covered up the cars with tarps and race officials encouraged fans to leave the grandstand as the storm approached.

Carl Edwards won the pole Friday and started up front as he tries to sweep both Bristol races this season. His three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates were all in the top five of the grid: Denny Hamlin in second, Kyle Busch in third and Matt Kenseth in fifth.