DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – The highly anticipated Daytona 500 has been postponed until Monday due to heavy rainfall that has persisted over the weekend. NASCAR made the swift decision to delay the race in response to the inclement weather, which has been forecasted to continue throughout Sunday. The race was initially scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday but will now take place on Monday at 4 p.m. ET. This marks the third significant delay for the Daytona 500 in the past five seasons.
The postponement has also led to other race schedule changes, with Saturday’s Xfinity Series race postponed to Monday at 11 a.m. ET. The rain has caused disruption to the racing events, but Monday’s forecast appears more promising, with a possibility for the races to be run to their scheduled distances. Should both races take place on Monday, it will be the first time in Speedweeks history that two races have been run on a Monday.
Joey Logano is set to start the Daytona 500 from the pole position, marking his first career Daytona pole. The two-time Cup Series champion won the 2015 Daytona 500 and will look to make an impact in this year’s delayed race.
The decision to postpone the 500 was an exceptional one, as NASCAR typically waits as long as possible before making such a call. However, the forecast left them with no choice. By rescheduling the race to Monday, NASCAR is taking a prudent approach to prevent fans from having to endure long waits in the rain.
The race is set to be televised on Fox, and its delay has left both fans and drivers eagerly anticipating the new schedule. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the anticipation for the Daytona 500 remains high, with the delayed start adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the prestigious event.