It looks like the weather might throw a wrench into the plans at North Wilkesboro this weekend. Fans gearing up to camp and tailgate at the All-Star race have been buzzing with excitement for weeks. However, their outdoor fun hinges on unpredictable weather. The latest weather report points to possible scattered showers or storms around 5:30 PM on Sunday, just as the open kicks off, with temperatures hanging in the mid-70s. This uncertain forecast is causing some worry among fans who’ve already shelled out cash to catch the action live.

How likely is the NASCAR North Wilkesboro All-Star race going to be marred by rain?

The action is set to start on Friday, but with the weather forecast showing a high of 75° and a 50% chance of rain kicking in by 2:00 p.m., it’s touch-and-go whether the on-track activities starting at 3:00 p.m. will get much track time. Saturday doesn’t look much better, with temperatures hitting 77° and rain chances soaring to 70%, potentially disrupting another day of racing.

For Sunday, the big race day, Weather.com predicts temperatures around 71° with a 70% chance of rain, though it’s expected to taper off by the evening, dropping to a 20% chance of a stray shower by race time. While temperatures will start in the low 70s, they’ll dip into the 60s as the race progresses. The latest update suggests the rain should clear up around 5:00 p.m., hopefully just in time for the drivers to hit the track for the NASCAR All-Star Race.

The wettest day will be Saturday. A new low-pressure system is heading into the Carolinas, expected to bring multiple rounds of rain that could get heavy. With lightning also in the mix, isolated storms might pack a punch, bringing the risk of hail and damaging winds. The southern counties are on alert, marked under “Marginal Risk,” which rates 1 out of 5 on the severity scale.

However, if the teams and NASCAR decide to proceed, they will have the support of Goodyear. During the All-Star weekend, NASCAR teams will get nine sets of tires, with three different compounds to choose from. Following a tire test in March on the newly repaved North Wilkesboro surface, Goodyear introduced a “prime” tire as the standard compound. They’ll also offer an “option” tire made from a softer compound that provides more grip but wears down quicker—perfect for strategic plays. And, with rain looking likely, wet weather tires are also on the roster, ready to be rolled out if needed.

But teams must stick to one compound at a time—all four tires on the car need to be the same type. To keep things clear, the tires are color-coded: prime tires have yellow Goodyear lettering, option tires are marked in red, and the wet weather tires sport white.

With the weather looking iffy, while it could get a bit exciting like the Richmond race when NASCAR had teams gear up with wet weather tires right from the start, there’s a bit of worry floating around that the race might end up being canceled if conditions don’t improve.

NASCAR enthusiasts are fretting that rain might wash out the All-Star race

Recently, Bob Pockrass shared the weekend’s outlook, stirring up some discontent among fans due to the damp forecast. One spectator, reflecting on Thursday’s downpour, expressed skepticism: “If yesterday was a preview we ain’t seeing 💩 till Sunday.“ Another curious fan wondered about possible solutions, asking, “What are the other options, as it looks like mother nature is going to “rain on the parade”. Or would they turn it into a foot race and let the drivers and pit crew run relay races in the rain🤷🏻‍♀️.”

One fan sarcastically noted NASCAR’s unlucky timing with the weather, indicating that rain always plays the role of a villain when a NASCAR race is scheduled, not before that, not after that, it’s simply on the weekend: “Rain, rain go away, come again when nascars done 🎶.“ 

Another hopeful racer was concerned about the tire supply, saying, “Hope GOODYEAR brought enough rain tires for Trucks, Xfinity & Cup. Rain is in the forecast this weekend!“

Someone who’d already purchased tickets for Saturday voiced their concern: “That rain better clear out for Saturday! I really don’t wanna sit in the rain.” Another fan pondered the implications of a total washout: “If all of it gets rained out, how do they set the field? And I would assume Larson would get to keep his spot.”

Are you from North Wilkesboro? Let us know if there’s any chance the weather might improve by Sunday.