Due to nearby lightning, NASCAR had to delay the Xfinity Series race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta for over an hour on Friday night. The track stayed dry, but safety concerns for fans and competitors led to the pause in the event. The race resumed after the red flag at 9:02 pm EST, with cars back on track at 10:25 pm EST.
Sheldon Creed led the field to the green flag, but early incidents marred the race. A collision involving Blaine Perkins and Christian Eckes caused a caution on Lap 5, involving other cars like Parker Retzlaff, William Sawalich, and Josh Williams.
Austin Hill, the favorite, encountered fuel pressure issues and fell back, while Creed maintained control. After a lightning strike within eight miles, NASCAR halted the race on Lap 34 of the 45-lap opening stage.
When the race was stopped, Creed led, with Connor Zilisch in second and a competitive top ten featuring Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, and Taylor Gray. The field’s strategies varied as they resumed racing, but a major wreck disrupted the proceedings shortly after.
