TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - NASCAR canceled all Saturday track activity at Talladega Superspeedway because of threats of extended periods of severe weather.
Track officials said the decision was made on advice from the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service, which said Talladega County was one of the areas in Alabama facing a high risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes on Saturday.
"Fans are strongly encouraged to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety, especially those guests camping on speedway property," track officials said.
The Nationwide Series race scheduled for Saturday will now be held today following the Sprint Cup Series race. It's the second consecutive weekend that NASCAR will attempt a doubleheader.
Rain last weekend in Texas washed out both Cup and Nationwide events, and they were run back-to-back on Monday. Drivers who competed in both series totaled 801 miles of racing.
There are 10 drivers scheduled to run both of today's races, which are scheduled to total 811.30 miles barring any additional "overtime" laps.
Qualifying for Talladega's Cup race was canceled, and the field for today's race will be set by owner points. Four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson will lead Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle to the green flag.
The Sprint Cup race will begin at 10 a.m., as scheduled, and the Nationwide Series race will follow.