Heavy rain delays Sunday's resumption of Xfinity Series race in Chicago

CHICAGO — Heavy rain and storms delayed the resumption of the NASCAR Xfinity Series event Sunday on the Chicago Street Race circuit. (UPDATE: NASCAR called the race and declared Cole Custer the winner.)

The Loop 121 — the series’ first race on the downtown Chicago course — began Saturday afternoon before adverse weather forced the remainder of the race to be postponed to Sunday. The race was scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network, but holds for lightning in the vicinity plus torrential rain caused further delays.

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Competition and track officials worked to mitigate standing water around the 2.2-mile layout, with several trouble spots of pooling rainfall. The race had completed 25 of a scheduled 55 laps.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer was shown atop the race leaderboard, having set the pace for every lap from the pole position. Joe Gibbs Racing’s John Hunter Nemechek was scored second with Illinois native Justin Allgaier third for JR Motorsports.