CHICAGO — A lightning strike within eight miles of the Chicago Lakefront halted action after 25 laps of The Loop 121 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the street course, ultimately forcing postponement until 11 a.m. ET Sunday.

Pole winner Cole Custer led all 25 laps.

NASCAR opted to delay the race in the interest of public safety. The initial lightning strike forced the third caution of the event, with Custer comfortably ahead of second-place John Hunter Nemechek.

The completion of the race will be broadcast on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. It will precede Sunday’s scheduled Grant Park 220 NASCAR Cup Series event (5 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Earlier on Saturday, Sheldon Creed posted the second fastest time in the final round of qualifying. But during the second lap — trying to surpass Custer for the pole — he destroyed his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in a violent crash and had to start the race from the rear in a backup car.

By the time the race was slowed for the Lap 25 caution and subsequent red flag, Creed had climbed to 11th in the running order.

–Field Level Media