NASCAR has changed the start time of Sunday’s Daytona 500 in order to get ahead of inclement weather.
The listed start time for the 68th running of the Daytona 500 is now 1:30 p.m. ET, with the green flag set to fly at 2:13 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Daytona 500 has been pushed to Monday twice in the last six years (2020, 2024) and was impacted by lengthy weather delays in 2021 and 2025.
Rain and thunderstorms have often plagued NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway.
What Daytona 500 forecast looks like
Per AccuWeather, there is a 55 percent chance of precipitation on Sunday and a 33 percent chance of thunderstorms in Daytona Beach, Fla. While there may be a small rain shower on Sunday morning, the main weather concern would be a late afternoon thunderstorm that is typical in Florida.
The schedule change will impact Sunday’s previous schedule. Parking lots will now open at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, the fan zone opening at 8:30 a.m. and gates at Daytona International Speedway opening at 9 a.m. ET.
Sunday’s race is sold out and a crowd of over 100,000 fans will take over the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Coverage of the 68th Daytona 500 will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.