NASCAR Officially Moves Daytona 500 Weekend

What’s Happening?

In 2027 NASCAR will move the race weekend for the Daytona 500 from its traditional slot on Presidents Day weekend. This avoids a cross date with Super Bowl LXI, with the race kicking off the season on February 21.

• This shift follows a change by the NFL, which has pushed the Super Bowl into Presidents’ Day weekend. The new dates prevent an on-air head-to-head battle for ratings with Super Bowl LXI, which will be held on February 14, 2027.
• This move has been long-rumored, following the announcement of Super Bowl LXI’s date change from its traditional spot on the second Sunday in February. NASCAR’s recent drop in viewership, coinciding with the kickoff of the 2025-2026 NFL season, also contributed to fan support for this change in date.
• The last time the 500 took place on the 21st was in 2016, the date of Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr’s thrilling neck-and-neck finish. The latest the race has ever been started was on February 27, which occurred twice, in 1996 and 2012; however, the 2012 race ended on February 28.
• This is the first confirmed date on the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. This also likely confirms the first races of the 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, which will likely take place on February 20 and February 19, respectively.

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