The 2026 NASCAR Season is finally here, and the Daytona 500 marks the beginning of a new season. Whether you are going to be at the track or home, what does the forecast look like for the race weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida?
The Daytona International Speedway opened its doors in 1959. The track was the first “modern” superspeedway, sitting at a massive 2.5 miles with 31 degrees of banking in each turn.
The spring race weekend at Daytona is packed and features the most on-track time fans will see all season long, with the Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Truck Series all getting a fair amount of time to work everything out before the race.
This all begins on Wednesday with Cup Series qualifying, then Thursday with the two qualifying races for the Daytona 500, then on Friday and Saturday, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, all leading up to the 68th Daytona 500 on Sunday.
Wednesday, February 11: Cup Series Qualifying | 8:15 PM on FS1
Before Qualifying (3:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 74°F at 3:00 PM
Precipitation: 5% Chance From 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Wind: 9 to 5 mph
During Qualifying (8:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 65°F at 8:00 PM
Precipitation: 4% Chance From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Wind: 5 mph
After Qualifying (10:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 63°F at 10:00 PM
Precipitation: 4% Chance From 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Wind: 5 mph
Thursday, February 12: Cup Series Duel Races | 7:00 PM on FOX
Before the Duel Races (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 70°F at 3:00 PM
Precipitation: 7% Chance From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wind: 9 to 7 mph
During the Duel Races (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 62°F at 7:00 PM
Precipitation: 7% Chance From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Wind: 7 to 2 mph
After the Duel Races (11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 56°F
Precipitation: 5% Chance
Wind: 2 mph
Friday, February 13: Truck Series Race | 7:30 PM on FOX
Before the Race (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 69°F at 7:00 PM
Precipitation: 11% Chance From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wind: 8 to 8 mph
During the Race (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 69°F at 7:00 PM
Precipitation: 11% Chance From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Wind: 8 to 5 mph
After the Race (10:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 60°F at 10:00 PM
Precipitation: 6% Chance From 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Wind: 3 mph
Saturday, February 14: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | 6:00 PM on FOX
Before the Race (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 72°F at 2:00 PM
Precipitation: 12% Chance From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Wind: 11 to 10 mph
During the Race (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 70°F at 6:00 PM
Precipitation: 12% Chance From 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Wind: 10 to 7 mph
After the Race (9:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 62°F at 9:00 PM
Precipitation: 16% Chance From 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Wind: 7 mph
Sunday, February 15: 68th Daytona 500 | 2:30 PM on FOX
Before the Race (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 77°F at 2:00 PM
Precipitation: 61% Chance From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Wind: 16 mph
During the Race (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 77°F at 2:00 PM
Precipitation: 61% Chance From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Wind: 16 to 13 mph
After the Race (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 70°F at 6:00 PM
Precipitation: 61% Chance From 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Wind: 13 to 10 mph
Recent Weather Events at Daytona: The Daytona 500…
The Daytona 500 has had a somewhat tense relationship with the weather over the past decade.
Take the 2020 Daytona 500, for example.
After twenty laps on Sunday, the race was pushed to Monday, which resulted in one of the best finishes in years. But since then, rain has affected Speedweeks in some way nearly every season.
In 2020, the final Cup Series practice session was cancelled due to rain. In 2024, the race was pushed to Monday, alongside an overhaul of the whole race weekend, due to major storms in the area. Finally, last season, the race was delayed nearly three hours due to rain.
All this is to say that if the forecast looks rough this weekend, it is far from a surprise.
Note: This article will be updated with a more accurate and detailed forecast as the race weekend nears.
