Christopher Bell won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in New Hampshire. The feat took more than skill. It also took a set of Goodyear rain tires.

Eager fans gathered at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Drivers hit the track. Then came the rain. With 82 laps to go, officials called a delay.

For years, wet weather has delayed or ended NASCAR races. Even a tiny sprinkle can call off a major competition.

What makes rain such a problem for race cars? Wet roads can cause hydroplaning. That happens when tires lose their grip on the road and slide on water. Race cars might seem too heavy to slip in puddles. But their tires have no tread. They are much smoother than the tires on regular cars. At high speeds, even a thin layer of water means danger. (Plus, most race cars don’t have windshield wipers. If it’s raining, drivers can’t see well.)

A season ago, the rained-out race would have simply ended. But this year, wet-weather tires saved the day.

The term “wet-weather” might be a bit of an exaggeration. These tires are designed for driving on damp roads after rain. Angled treads push water away from the tires.

Before Sunday, NASCAR had used the new tires officially only once before. Some drivers and officials were skeptical.

“I was probably the biggest skeptic when they said they wanted to run wet,” says crew chief Adam Stevens. “I thought they were crazy. They proved me wrong, for sure.”

The delay lasted just over two hours. Workers dried the track as much as they could. Goodyear’s wet-weather tires did the rest. Christopher Bell took the victory. He’s now the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to win a race on rain tires.

Scripture describes the Christian life as a race. (Hebrews 12:1) In that race, we face more dangers than just damp roads. But even in storms, we have nothing to fear. God promises to keep our footing sure.

When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. — Psalm 94:18