Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway was the first NASCAR race since the sports shutdown to have some fans in the stands. But for much of the afternoon, fans weren’t treated to much racing at all.
Multiple lightning delays had drivers waiting out the weather at the Dixie Vodka 400, but just beyond the track, Clint Bowyer’s spotter Brett Griffin saw what appeared to be a small tornado in the distance.
Griffin tweeted a photo to ask weather experts what they thought it was. And, well, it certainly seemed like Griffin had snapped a photo of a waterspout (a tornado that forms over water) in Biscayne Bay.
Hey weather geeks. What’s this? pic.twitter.com/XXkAZk8LeF
— Brett Griffin (@SpotterBrett) June 14, 2020
From the photo, it was unclear if Griffin had seen a tornado or waterspout — neither would have been ideal for racing, obviously.
But the National Weather Service in Miami eventually confirmed that a waterspout had formed in the bay.
Special Marine Warning including the Coastal waters from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef FL out 20 NM and Biscayne Bay until 7:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Sk5MndFgg9
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) June 14, 2020
The race would restart after that waterspout sighting … only to be delayed again for lightning.
And… lightning has struck again near the track. #DixieVodka400 goes back under red flag for at least 30 minutes. #NASCAR https://t.co/CFs5w3IWFl
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) June 14, 2020
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