The race will now start at 1:30pm EST with a green flag at 2:13pm, giving drivers a narrow window before weather hits
The Daytona 500 is moving earlier, and it’s all because NASCAR is trying to outrun a storm system that’s basically inevitable. The 68th running of the most prestigious race in stock car racing gets a one-hour bump to 1:30pm EST on Sunday to dodge thunderstorms that are forecasted to arrive after 5pm. The NASCAR RaceDay pre-race show shifts to 11:30am EST. The green flag will wave at 2:13pm. Essentially, NASCAR is betting that 3.5 hours of racing time before 5pm is enough to complete the 500-mile event before the weather turns ugly.
- The race will now start at 1:30pm EST with a green flag at 2:13pm, giving drivers a narrow window before weather hits
- This is proactive, not reactive
- The math here is tight but manageable
- The field is set and ready to go, weather or not
- The irony is that Speedweek has been absolutely blessed weather-wise until now
This is proactive, not reactive
NASCAR watched historic snow postpone the Clash at Bowman Gray earlier in the week, so they’re not taking chances with the crown jewel of the racing season. After enjoying optimal weather all through Speedweek at Daytona, a thunderstorm threat on race day is the kind of variable that can either result in a shortened race or a postponement to Monday. The last time Daytona got pushed to Monday was 2024. Before that, 2013. The race has been shortened by rain four times in its history (1965, 1966, 2003, 2009), which shows that weather delays aren’t unprecedented but they’re also not the norm.
The math here is tight but manageable
A 500-mile race typically takes around 3.5 hours to complete. Storms hit around 5pm. Start at 2:13pm, finish around 5:45pm. That’s cutting it close. Too close, really. Which is exactly why NASCAR moved the entire event up rather than gambling that the race would finish before weather arrives. It’s the kind of decision that shows the sport has learned from previous weather disasters.
The field is set and ready to go, weather or not
Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing will lead the charge from the pole position, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe on the front row. The supporting cast is absolutely star-studded. Nate Bargatze serves as grand marshal. Kurt Russell is in the pace car. The honorary starter? Bart Simpson yes, the cartoon character, which somehow works perfectly for a pre-race moment that needs to feel special. Miranda Lambert headlines the pre-race concert, adding the kind of star power that makes Daytona feel like the event it actually is.
What’s notable is that NASCAR had to choose between starting earlier or risking a weather delay that could push to Monday. Starting earlier is the safer bet. Fans get their race, drivers get their competition, and the sport gets its money. A Monday postponement means reshuffled schedules, potential conflict with other sporting events, and lost momentum from Sunday’s broadcast. NASCAR chose to manage the risk rather than absorb it.
The irony is that Speedweek has been absolutely blessed weather-wise until now
Optimal conditions all week, and then the biggest race of the year gets threatened by thunderstorms. That’s just Daytona you can have perfect conditions for days, then Mother Nature decides to test your contingency planning. NASCAR is basically saying: we saw what happened at Bowman Gray, we’re not letting that happen here.
The broadcast on FOX will start at 1:30pm EST, giving viewers the full experience even with the earlier kickoff. That might actually benefit casual fans who might otherwise miss a late-afternoon race. An early afternoon start time is more accessible for families. It’s possible NASCAR accidentally improved the race experience while trying to avoid weather.
The green flag waves at 2:13pm. The window closes at 5pm. Racing will happen in between, and hopefully before the storm arrives.
