2026 Nascar Daytona 500

pjmolo said:
Trying to explain qualifying for the 500 to a newbie reminds me of trying to explain how the season champion is determined ever since Kenseth won it in 2003.

The response I usually get is "Never mind, it's not that important
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Mark Martin is on Line 1, and he has a plan.
 
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The start of the Daytona 500 has been pushed up an hour to 1:30pm due to the threat of rain in the early evening hours.

From NASCAR:


NASCAR Moves Up Start of DAYTONA 500

Start of 68th running of The Great American Race moved up one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET​

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2026) – Due to potential weather forecasted for the Daytona Beach area late Sunday, NASCAR today announced the DAYTONA 500 will move up one hour from its originally scheduled time to now begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Gates and hospitality will now open at 9 a.m. ET, and the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone will open at 8:30 a.m. ET. Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. ET.

Fans in attendance will still get to enjoy the pre-race performance by Miranda Lambert and the pageantry of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performing the flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

The 2026 DAYTONA 500 kicks off the Cup Series’ regular season with the largest purse in motorsports of over $31 million for NASCAR’s most prestigious race.

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch will lead the field to green from the pole position while Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe will start alongside him on the front row. William Byron, the two-time defending race winner, is looking to become the first driver ever to win three DAYTONA 500 championships in a row.

Fans can find additional schedule details for pre-race festivities in the fan guide at daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

The original broadcast networks remain unchanged. The DAYTONA 500 will be live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
 
HoneyBadger said:
The start of the Daytona 500 has been pushed up an hour to 1:30pm due to the threat of rain in the early evening hours.

From NASCAR:


NASCAR Moves Up Start of DAYTONA 500

Start of 68th running of The Great American Race moved up one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET​

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2026) – Due to potential weather forecasted for the Daytona Beach area late Sunday, NASCAR today announced the DAYTONA 500 will move up one hour from its originally scheduled time to now begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Gates and hospitality will now open at 9 a.m. ET, and the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone will open at 8:30 a.m. ET. Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. ET.

Fans in attendance will still get to enjoy the pre-race performance by Miranda Lambert and the pageantry of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performing the flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

The 2026 DAYTONA 500 kicks off the Cup Series’ regular season with the largest purse in motorsports of over $31 million for NASCAR’s most prestigious race.

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch will lead the field to green from the pole position while Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe will start alongside him on the front row. William Byron, the two-time defending race winner, is looking to become the first driver ever to win three DAYTONA 500 championships in a row.

Fans can find additional schedule details for pre-race festivities in the fan guide at daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

The original broadcast networks remain unchanged. The DAYTONA 500 will be live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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Good decision to move it up.
 
I have a complicated relationship with the Daytona 500.

I love the Daytona 500 for its aura, for its history, and for being the return to racing. And I love Daytona as a facility.

But at the same time...God, I really hate this place. Yeah, I know I just said I loved it in the line above, make it make sense.
 
DaleJrFan2003 said:
I have a complicated relationship with the Daytona 500.

I love the Daytona 500 for its aura, for its history, and for being the return to racing. And I love Daytona as a facility.

But at the same time...God, I really hate this place. Yeah, I know I just said I loved it in the line above, make it make sense.
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I just expect the unexpected. It seems to happen most of the time. Thinking they are going to run 500 miles and not wreck is a fools errand.

 
HoneyBadger said:
A pre-recorded driver intro skit instead of just showing driver intros ... a FOX NASCAR Daytona 500 tradition.
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Why I don't watch pre-race, but especially not on Fox. I guess these bits and theme music and solemn-voiced pep talks must appeal to someone. Me, I just want the driver line-up, stage breaks, fuel window, and drop the green.
 
DaleJrFan2003 said:
I have a complicated relationship with the Daytona 500.

I love the Daytona 500 for its aura, for its history, and for being the return to racing. And I love Daytona as a facility.

But at the same time...God, I really hate this place. Yeah, I know I just said I loved it in the line above, make it make sense.
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So far through Truck and O’Reilly at least, the reversion to the Chase has allowed me to watch the races without caring about how it affects the title hunt via ‘win and in’. Which is how it should be - it’s all about the Harley J. Earl today. That makes any ensuing chaos and carnage more palatable, imo.
 
FLRacingFan said:
So far through Truck and O’Reilly at least, the reversion to the Chase has allowed me to watch the races without caring about how it affects the title hunt via ‘win and in’. Which is how it should be - it’s all about the Harley J. Earl today. That makes any ensuing chaos and carnage more palatable, imo.
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Agreed, it’s way more enjoyable now that I know a fluke Daytona win won’t lock someone into championship contention.
 
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