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07/12 19:48 CDT Lightning and rain cause delay with Blaney leading NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta Lightning and rain cause delay with Blaney leading NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) --- Pole winner Ryan Blaney held the lead when severe weather caused a delay in the NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday night. There had been concern about approaching rain before lighting within eight miles of the 1.54-mile oval track near Atlanta led NASCAR officials to order cars off the track and advise fans to exit the grandstand. Rain began soon after the race was delayed. The race was halted at lap 108 in Stage 2. The race is scheduled for 260 laps and 130 laps must be completed for the race to be official. Blaney won the pole and his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano joined him on the front row. A third Team Penske driver, Austin Cindric, moved up to third early in the race for an early strong showing for the Fords. Bubba Wallace was second and Tyler Reddick was third when the race was delayed. Another Toyota driver, Christopher Bell, was fourth. Chase Elliott, who won last summer's race in Atlanta, was fifth. Cup Series points leader Denny Hamlin, who qualified 28th, moved up to 15th. Reddick, who won at EchoPark Speedway in February as part of his string of five wins in the season's first nine races, qualified only 31st on Saturday. By the 35th lap he already had moved up to fourth, proving early that he again would be a factor in Atlanta.

Up next The Cup Series moves to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, next weekend. Christopher Bell edged Joey Logano at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 18, 2025. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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