NASCAR has changed the beginning time of Sunday’s Daytona 500 so as to get forward of inclement climate.
The listed begin time for the 68th operating of the Daytona 500 is now 1:30 p.m. ET, with the inexperienced flag set to fly at 2:13 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Daytona 500 has been pushed to Monday twice within the final six years (2020, 2024) and was impacted by prolonged climate delays in 2021 and 2025.
Rain and thunderstorms have usually plagued NASCAR races at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
What Daytona 500 forecast appears like
Per AccuWeather, there’s a 55 % likelihood of precipitation on Sunday and a 33 % likelihood of thunderstorms in Daytona Seaside, Fla. Whereas there could also be a small rain bathe on Sunday morning, the principle climate concern can be a late afternoon thunderstorm that’s typical in Florida.
The schedule change will affect Sunday’s earlier schedule. Parking tons will now open at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, the fan zone opening at 8:30 a.m. and gates at Daytona Worldwide Speedway opening at 9 a.m. ET.
Sunday’s race is offered out and a crowd of over 100,000 followers will take over the two.5-mile superspeedway.
Protection of the 68th Daytona 500 will start at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
