Daytona 500 start time moved up an hour as bad weather looms
The start of the Daytona 500 has been moved up one hour as forecasters track inclement weather approaching the Daytona Beach area. The green flag is now scheduled for 2: 13 p. m. ET at Daytona International Speedway, with officials hoping to get the season-opening race underway before conditions deteriorate.
Race-day timeline shifts as teams prepare for faster rollout
Organizers advanced the start time to compress the schedule and lessen the chance of rain impacting the event. Teams scrambled to adjust pre-race checks, pit-crew timings and warm-up plans to the new timeline. Trackside personnel and crew chiefs emphasized quick communication throughout garages as the revised clock changed the rhythm of the normally choreographed Daytona weekend.
The Daytona 500 traditionally marks the opening of the stock car season, and this year's running is the 68th edition. With weather now a factor, strategies that rely on cloud cover or cool track temperatures could change at a moment's notice. Crew chiefs noted that any shift in grip or wind would force rapid adjustments to aerodynamics and tire pressures, particularly during the chilly, early-afternoon running now expected.
Byron chases history; Busch on pole, rivals ready
William Byron arrives in Daytona with a chance to make history. He will attempt to become the first driver to win the Daytona 500 three years in a row, a feat no competitor has achieved in the event's long history. Last year’s finish provided a dramatic preview of how chaotic the final laps can be: Byron took the checkered flag in overtime after the then-leader spun on the final circuit, maneuvering past eight cars on the last lap to reach Victory Lane.
Kyle Busch will begin the race from the pole, having secured the No. 1 starting position in qualifying. This marks his 21st start in the event, and he said he is focused on ending a prolonged personal skid and returning to competitiveness at the superspeedway. Other contenders, including veterans and rising stars, are watching both the weather forecast and the running order closely; Daytona has a way of turning pre-race expectations upside down.
What to expect if weather moves in
If rain moves onto the track, officials will weigh delay and postponement options against the remaining daylight and the forecast window. Shortened races or extended stoppages are possible outcomes, and teams have contingency plans for both. Safety remains paramount: any sustained precipitation on the racing surface will force a suspension until dry conditions can be restored, which can significantly alter driver mentality and team tactics.
With the start now set for mid-afternoon, spectators and teams alike are bracing for a tense wait. For drivers chasing milestones and those aiming to upset the favorites, the compressed schedule only heightens the stakes. Practically, teams must be nimble: pit stops, drafting lines, fuel windows and tire stress all take on new importance when a weather clock is ticking above the speedway.
As the field prepares to roll to the green at 2: 13 p. m. ET, all attention will be on the track and the skies. The Daytona 500 has produced some of racing's most unpredictable moments, and with time tightened by weather concerns, this year’s edition could deliver another chapter of late-race drama.
