Why Isn’t the Daytona 500 On? NASCAR Race Postponed for Weather

NASCAR has postponed Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 until Monday because of inclement weather at Daytona International Speedway.

The race was originally scheduled to begin around 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. But after two days of rain showers hitting the track in Daytona Beach, Florida—and more to follow throughout the afternoon, per the weather forecast—NASCAR announced at 9:30 a.m. ET the decision to reschedule the event to 4 p.m. ET on Monday. The final practice ahead of the Daytona 500 was canceled on Saturday, providing some doubt the green flag would wave as planned.

This marks the first time the Daytona 500 has been postponed a full day since 2012, according to the Associated Press. In more recent weather obstacles, NASCAR completed 20 laps of the 2020 race before rain stopped the event, which resumed the next day.

Following Sunday’s move, the Daytona 500 now teams up with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, which was pushed back from Saturday, to create the first-ever Monday doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR said.

The Xfinity Series race will begin at 11 a.m. ET. Original broadcast networks for both events remain unchanged. The Xfinity Series race will be relayed on FS1, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. A few hours after the engines start running for that, the Daytona 500—with Joey Logano on the pole—will air live on FOX in addition to the radio options. Parking lots for the events will open at 7 a.m. ET, Daytona International Speedway said, and venue gates, hospitality and the Hardrock Bet Fanzone will open at 10 a.m. ET.

Newsweek’s call to NASCAR seeking additional comment was not immediately returned.

Once the checkered flag waves to wrap up the United Rentals 300, Daytona International Speedway said in a Sunday update on X, formerly Twitter, that “fans who do not have Daytona 500 tickets will need to sit in seats not occupied by Daytona 500 ticket holders. United 300 tickets take priority for seating until the completion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.”

Fans looking to buy or sell reserved seats, NASCAR said, should visit SeatGeek where tickets remain available for Monday’s event.

Meanwhile, the Weather Channel predicts showers in the Daytona Beach area Monday morning, then partly cloudy conditions with high winds and a temperature around 62 degrees in the afternoon.

As of Sunday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook gives Denny Hamlin (+800) the best odds to win this year’s Daytona 500. Rounding out the top six are Logano (+900), Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski (+1000 each), plus Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott, who are tied at +1200. Hamlin also has the best odds at DraftKings of finishing top three (+225) and top five (+100).