WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Andy Lally will have to curb his enthusiasm for another day.

Lally, a champion road racer with dreams of competing in NASCAR, was scheduled to make his first Sprint Cup start on Sunday. But a band of rain moved over the road course at Watkins Glen International and never lifted, forcing NASCAR to postpone the race until noon Monday.

‘‘It’s pretty anticlimactic. We were all belted in ready to go when they pulled the plug on us,’’ Lally said after NASCAR called off the race at 4 p.m. ‘‘This being my first Sprint Cup start, it just makes it that much more anticipation. I’m going to try to get a good night’s sleep in the motor home tonight and just think positive, keep thinking about all the things I have to do tomorrow.’’

A thunderstorm hit the track about 2 p.m. Sunday when drivers were about to start their engines. The course takes at least two hours to dry. Rain was still falling at 4 p.m. making it too late to complete the 90-lap event before sunset.