Rain cancels Cup, Xfinity practice, qualifying at Auto Club Speedway

Persistent rain has forced NASCAR to cancel Saturday practice and qualifying for the scheduled Cup and Xfinity Series races at Auto Club Speedway.

The starting lineups for the two races were set by rulebook metrics. Christopher Bell will be on the pole for Sunday’s Cup race, and Austin Hill will start first in Xfinity.

The Xfinity race is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Rain is predicted in the afternoon in the track area.

Sunday’s Cup race is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. (ET).

The second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season is scheduled Saturday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway.

Rain cancelled practice and qualifying Saturday, putting Austin Hill on the pole. Hill won last week’s Xfinity opener at Daytona International Speedway and will be among the favorites at ACS.

Garrett Smithley and Ryan Vargas failed to make the field.

Three Cup drivers — Austin Dillon, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick — are in the Xfinity lineup.

The 300-mile race is scheduled for a 5 p.m. ET start (FS1).

START: The command to start engines will be given at 5:08 p.m. … Green flag is scheduled to wave at 5:17 p.m.

PRERACE: Qualifying and practice were cancelled by rain. … Driver introductions are scheduled at 4:30 p.m. … David Castro will give the invocation at 5 p.m. … The national anthem is scheduled at 5:01 p.m.

DISTANCE: The race is 150 laps (300 miles) on the 2-mile track.

STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 35. Stage 2 ends at lap 70.

STARTING LINEUP: Auto Club Xfinity starting lineup

TV/RADIO: FS1 will broadcast the race at 4 p.m. … Motor Racing Network coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. and also will stream at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the MRN broadcast.

FORECAST: Cloudy with periods of rain. High of 43. 100% chance of rain.

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