Menu
It’s officially Daytona 500 week, and NASCAR fans across the world are excited for the first racing weekend of the regular season…that is…if Mother Nature allows. Unfortunately, the forecast does not look swell for this weekend, but, we will keep fans up to date on the latest twists and turns to the weekend weather.
Read Also:
Monday, February 19th: Cup Series Daytona 500 (4 PM ET)/Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 (9 PM ET)
The 2024 Daytona 500 was postponed the morning of the race, before FOX pre-race coverage even started. A virtual guarantee of rain throughout the day and the early evening meant that there was no window for NASCAR to complete the race on Sunday, so, the race was postponed to Monday at 4:00 PM.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race has been moved three separate times this weekend. The original start time was 5 PM ET on Saturday before NASCAR moved it up to 4:30 PM to accommodate the rain. A deluge on Saturday caused NASCAR to postpone the race to Monday at 11 AM ET, only to be moved again by more rain on Saturday morning. Finally, it seems 9 PM ET on Monday is when it will happen.
Mike’s Weather Page calls for the same forecast. Rain will linger in the morning, but clear with plenty of time for the races to happen on Monday night. It seems today is finally the day that the Daytona 500 will happen.
Over the last 10 years, Daytona International Speedway is tied with Bristol Motor Speedway for the most weather-impacted races in NASCAR with 7. The most recent argument the Daytona 500 specifically has had with the weather came in 2021. A rain shower moved in early in the race right after “The Big One”, and the race was delayed until late Sunday night.
That was year two of a weather saga at Daytona. In 2020, rain and lightning came just as they were about to throw the green flag, and the race was delayed. Eventually, the race started, but another caution for weather came at lap 20. Eventually, NASCAR pulled the plug and held the race on Monday. It was the 2nd postponement in Daytona 500 history.
Perhaps the most memorable Daytona 500 weather kerfuffle was the 2012 Daytona 500. A steady rain pelted Daytona Beach all Sunday, forcing the race to be postponed to Monday at noon. The problem was, the rain didn’t stop, so NASCAR had to move the race to Monday night. The decision turned out to be perfect as a solid crowd returned to the Speedway to watch Matt Kenseth win one of the most chaotic Daytona 500s in history.
Daytona and Mother Nature have an interesting relationship. Will the weather cooperate this weekend, or will this be another chapter in NASCAR’s weather saga?
