Nascar fans, officials and drivers have taken to Twitter to discuss Sunday's delays at the Daytona 500. The race was halted after just 38 laps due to extreme weather conditions that included heavy rain and a tornado watch.
#Daytona500 at 3:16pm via @Mattzel89: pic.twitter.com/aDszgwC5cv— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) February 23, 2014
Daytona 500, with 38 laps to go, threatened by severe weather in the area. Tornado warning in effect until 5:15pm ET pic.twitter.com/7b0iyYWpn6— Al Roker (@alroker) February 23, 2014
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Nascar fans who remained at the event despite the weather were reportedly taking cover underneath the grandstands.
Current situation, hunkered down underneath the grandstands at the #Daytona500. #lightning #thunder #TornadoWarning pic.twitter.com/OuHj1Xq2yo— Doug T. (@deltatango72) February 23, 2014
The scene right now under the grandstand at the #Daytona500 rain delay. RT @Jacobsen114: @DISupdates pic.twitter.com/mTyZIIDV2J— Coca-Cola Racing (@CocaColaRacing) February 23, 2014
The tornado warnings were lifted by 5 p.m. ET when race officials began making efforts to dry the track.
Weather Update: Track drying in progress. #DAYTONA500— Daytona IntlSpeedway (@DISupdates) February 23, 2014
But no sooner had the process started than the rain started up again. "More rain now," tweeted Nascar's senior vice president Steve O'Donnell. "Need this cell to break apart!!!"
With the race delayed, many Nascar drivers and officials took to social media to discuss the bad weather and discuss how they were filling their time during the delay.
Rain rain go away. Let me lead my way to victory. RT @SamanthaBusch: Rain delay sad/mad faces w @KyleBusch pic.twitter.com/kGLnttUK6p— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) February 23, 2014
Thinking about making a slip n slide on the front stretch anybody want to join?— Austin Dillon (@austindillon3) February 23, 2014
Need rain to stop. Just ate a second spiced hot dog for the day. Any further delays could have serious health implications!— Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) February 23, 2014
As of 6:30 p.m. ET, It wasn't yet clear when the race would resume. Daytona's track does have lights so the race could be resumed in the evening, though the track will take longer to dry without the sun, tweeted O'Donnell.
For those asking race is on FOX tonight and it takes longer to dry when dark/colder...remaining optimistic— Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) February 23, 2014