Strong wind and the threat of severe weather changed race weekend plans at Kansas Speedway on Friday afternoon, forcing the track to shut down grandstand access and cancel evening activity. The speedway announced around 2:30 p.m. on April 17 that the grandstands would not open, and a NASCAR spokesperson later said all evening activities were canceled.
The weather hit as fans were looking forward to Friday practice rounds, one of the first chances to see the weekend take shape before the racing begins. The ARCA Menards Tide 150 was still scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, followed by the Kansas Lottery 300, with the NASCAR Cup set to return to Kansas Speedway on Sunday, April 19, for the Adventhealth 400 at 1 p.m.
Friday’s disruption leaves the weekend leaning on the next two race days, when the track was still planning to move forward with a full slate beginning Saturday morning. For fans who came expecting practice and an evening at the speedway, the first day of the event was wiped out before it could begin, and the rest of the weekend now depends on whether the weather lets the track stay open.
