Joliet, Ill. ? The line of strong storms moving in on Chicagoland Speedway was so big, bad and dark blue that it looked more like an impending tidal wave on the horizon.

With sheets of rain pounding the track and flashes of lightning across the sky, NASCAR officials canceled Thursday night’s Sprint Cup series qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.

“That was pretty ugly,” driver Jeff Burton said.

The field for Saturday night’s race will be set according to car-owner points, putting series points leader Kyle Busch on the pole position and Dale Earnhardt Jr. alongside him on the front row.

Burton will start third, alongside Carl Edwards. With the field of 43 being set according to points, Johnny Sauter and Tony Raines failed to make the field.