Daytona 500 start moved up an hour as weather threat looms
NASCAR announced a one-hour advancement of the Daytona 500 green flag as the forecast threatens the run of the season-opening race. The 68th running of "The Great American Race" will now begin at 2: 13 p. m. ET at Daytona International Speedway, a move intended to give officials a better window to complete the event if storms move in.
Schedule change intended to beat the weather
Organizers adjusted the start time with the explicit goal of avoiding the worst of the expected inclement conditions around Daytona Beach. Race control said the shift creates additional flexibility for the day—especially if rain approaches the area later in the afternoon. The decision was made to preserve the integrity of the 500-lap contest and reduce the likelihood of a weather-shortened outcome.
Fans and teams were notified of the accelerated timeline so broadcasters, crew chiefs and pit crews could finalize pit stops and strategy under the revised schedule. Track officials emphasized that safety remains paramount and that further tweaks could follow if weather patterns change before the green flag.
Byron chases history while Busch starts from the pole
William Byron arrives at Daytona in pursuit of a rare milestone: no driver has ever won the Daytona 500 three years in a row. Byron, the defending winner, claimed last year's victory in dramatic fashion when a last-lap incident shuffled the frontrunners and allowed him to surge through the chaos. On that final circuit he moved from several positions back to cross the line first, taking a signature win in overtime.
Starting position will matter less than ever at a superspeedway, but momentum and race craft are crucial—especially when weather and late-race restarts factor in. Byron's bid for an unprecedented three-peat will be watched closely by competitors and fans alike as the race unfolds under the compressed timeline.
Kyle Busch will roll off from the No. 1 spot after securing his first Daytona 500 pole. The start marks Busch's 21st attempt at the event, and the veteran is eager to snap a personal slump that has lingered in recent seasons. A strong start from the pole can influence early track position and provides a chance to avoid midpack incidents that often define the Daytona outcome.
What to expect once the green flag drops
Daytona races are notoriously unpredictable: drafting packs, late-race restarts and multi-car wrecks all have rewritten the leaderboard in the final laps. With the schedule tightened, teams will have less margin to react to changing conditions, making pit-stop timing and fuel calculations even more critical. Crew chiefs will be balancing aggression with patience, knowing that one miscalculation can lead to the kind of last-lap mayhem that decided the race last year.
Weather will be the day’s wild card. If rain approaches, officials can delay or suspend action, but the earlier start creates a better chance of reaching a natural or extended finish before conditions deteriorate. For drivers chasing history or redemption, the revised timetable adds another variable to an already high-stakes afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Fans at the track and viewers at home should expect a fast-paced, tightly scheduled program. With the green flag set for 2: 13 p. m. ET, teams will focus on execution and adaptability in what promises to be a tense, weather-tinged edition of the Daytona 500.
