JOLIET, Ill. -- Chad Knaus stood behind the NASCAR hauler at about 7:40 p.m. ET on Sunday, a steady rain pouring behind him just outside door cover that kept him dry, and said, "Are we done yet?"
It would be about 30 minutes later when the governing body finally postponed the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway to noon ET (ESPN and WatchESPN) on Monday because of rain.
But the frustration already had set in for Knaus, the crew chief for five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.
It was a frustrating day for a lot of people.
It was frustrating for crew chiefs and crew members who had been in the garage since it opened at 7 a.m. It was frustrating for drivers who instead of beginning their run for the title spent the day cramped up in motorcoaches watching NFL games and movies.
It was a frustrating day for fans who sat rain-soaked in the stands hoping that the race eventually would begin, and for those at home waiting for it to begin on television.
"Just a pain in the ass on everybody," Chase newcomer Brad Keselowski said.
It was.
NASCAR did all it could to get the race in and keep teams from spending money on another day of travel. But in the end, postponing the race, the first time that has happened since the Chase began in 2004, was the right thing to do.
