Pennsylvania 500 postponed by rain

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LONG POND, Pa., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Sunday's Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., was postponed until Monday afternoon due to rain.

NASCAR officials waited two hours after the scheduled start time, but decided to postpone the race 24 hours when they concluded there would not be enough daylight to complete the race Sunday.

"When you're sitting here and see blue skies at one end and dark clouds on the other end, it's really frustrating," NASCAR President Mike Helton said shortly before the decision was announced.

Rain forced the cancellation of Friday's qualifying session and then Tony Stewart wrecked his primary car Saturday. Friday's rain left Stewart on the pole, but the wreck meant he starts last in a backup vehicle.

The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported the change also postpones a planned visit by Jimmie Johnson and several other drivers to the White House Monday to meet President Barack Obama.