What’s Happening?

NASCAR enters Daytona International Speedway this weekend for one of the season’s most important race weekends. After heavy showers delayed the Daytona 500 by one day this February, what will be in store for the Cup and Xfinity Series this weekend at the beaches of Daytona?

• The NASCAR Cup Series has raced at Daytona twice a year since 1960. The summer race, a 400-mile outing, was initially held in July and is now in August. It is the only Superspeedway race on the schedule to occur under the lights and in the dark of night.
• The NASCAR Xfinity Series summer race at Daytona, a 250-mile event, is a significant stepping stone of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Drivers who win this race find themselves as top-rated prospects and looking at a Cup Series ride in the future.

Weekend Weather Forecast Via The National Weather Service

***Forecast will become available and fluctuate during race week and will be updated frequently

Friday, August 23rd: Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (7:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Rain Likely
• Temperature: High of 84°F, 81°F by the start of the race
• Rain: A high of 69% starting at 2 p.m., dropping to 29% around 8 p.m.
• Wind: 10 mph, dropping throughout the night

Sunday, August 24th: Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7:30 PM ET/Local)

• Forecast: Rain Likely
• Temperature: High of 85°F, 82°F by the start of the race
• Rain: A high of 58% starting at 2 p.m., dropping to 27% around 8 p.m.
• Wind: 11 mph, dropping throughout the night

Daytona Weather History

Daytona’s weather has been as unpredictable as its racing. Not only has the summer race been delayed frequently, but the Daytona 500 was delayed earlier this season. Recent summer races affected by rain include Justin Haley’s rain-shortened upset for Spire Motorsports in 2019 and Austin Dillon’s playoff upset win in 2022. That 2022 race saw lots of attention as a slight rain wrecked a large portion of the field, resulting in a final top-top of the smaller teams.