Weather Forces NASCAR to Change Cup Series Green Flag Time at Pocono
NASCAR has sharpened up on its weather forecasting with its latest announcement. The NASCAR Cup Series' Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway will take the green flag at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. The new timing is a 2-hour move up, given the increasing threat of thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening.
NEWS: The start time for the Cup Series race at @PoconoRaceway has been moved up to 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 13, 2026
Watch live on @PrimeVideo or listen on @MRNRadio and @SiriusXMNASCAR Radio. pic.twitter.com/Bfdqv4GtzE
NASCAR Moves Up Pocono Race Time
The current Sunday weather forecast indicates that rain is likely after 2:00 p.m. ET. The chance of rainfall is 0% throughout Sunday morning. When the race goes off at 1:00 p.m., the probability of rain is around 5%, according to the National Weather Service.
The race will not be clear despite an earlier start time. The chances of rain skyrocket to 48% at 3:00 p.m. and to 66% at 6:00 p.m.
Delays, especially near the end and in Stage 3 of the race, will certainly be a threat. NASCAR does well by moving up the race time, where they will now have more sunlight to dry the track, which could take up to two hours.
Pocono Raceway does not have lights, so night racing is not possible. It is very unlikely that NASCAR would return to finish the race on Monday if they race at least to the halfway point. Once NASCAR races reach halfway, the race can be deemed official.
Race strategy will be a key watch point during the race. If rain seems to be approaching, cars may race to the rain rather than the next pit stop and/or race finish. Even if rain falls as early as 3:00 p.m., there would be a chance that the cars never return to the track. Rain, being a threat all afternoon and evening, could end the day.
Given the rain threats that elapse 50% in the mid-afternoon, any track drying could take too long. What that means is that any gaps in potential rainfall could be too short between rain events, in which case drying never gets completed. That is purely a case scenario.
Be sure to modify your afternoon plans to watch the NASCAR Cup Series at 1:00 p.m. ET. If the race proceeds without any delays, it is expected to last roughly 3 hours, ending around 4:00 p.m., give or take, due to cautions.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 8:10 AM.