Sparta, Kentucky and the surrounding area is in a generally cloudy and wet pattern the week of the July 8-15 lunar phase. Thus, rain could cause a bit of havoc for the three NASCAR races there this weekend.

The Trucks race is Thursday evening (July 9), when there is fortunately little chance for race-changing weather. There could, however, be a shower, because of the general weather pattern.

The same may not be true of Friday evening’s (July 10) Xfinity race. Rain is a definite possibility during the hour or two before the scheduled green flag, which is about the time it should taper off and end.

Although we’re unlikely to see another middle-of-the-night race like last week at Daytona, astrometeorology indicates a high probability of cloudy skies and rain on Saturday, July 11, the date of the evening Cup race. The Moon will activate the week’s strong lineup for rain and overcast skies (Venus opposition Saturn contacting the lunar phase chart meridian), beginning in the late morning. The good news is that astrometeorology indicates the rain could begin to move out mid-afternoon, with scattered showers until about an hour before the scheduled green flag. Caveat: it’s always possible that atmospheric conditions could create overcast skies with only a few insignificant showers, but the planetary lineup active during this lunar phase is a classic one for overcast skies and heavy precipitation.