NASCAR Cup Series

Severe storms sweep across Talladega

Published Apr. 15, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Deadly storms that roared across the South led to the postponement of an ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, cut short practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup event and led Juan Pablo Montoya to take cover in the media center.

The track was pounded by heavy rain and wind, and the area was twice under a tornado warning Friday. But there were no reports of serious damage.

NASCAR stars such as Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth planned to ride out the storms in their luxury motor homes, parked next to the infield garage area.

''In all my times watching the Weather Channel, I've never heard of 43 big expensive buses getting destroyed,'' Newman said. ''I'm going to stick with the odds. I'm staying in my mobile home.''

Montoya was taking no chances. He brought his wife and three young children to the media center, a permanent structure, rather than remain in his home on wheels while the worst of the storm passed through the track.

Talladega officials rescheduled the ARCA race for 8 a.m. CDT time Saturday, hoping to get it in before qualifying for Sunday's Aaron's 499.

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