NASCAR delays season-opening Daytona 500 until Monday as two days of rain forces first postponement of race for 12 years
- The Daytona 500 hasn’t been postponed more than a full day since 2012
- But heavy rain before Sunday’s season opener forced race directors to postpone it
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NASCAR postponed the season-opening Daytona 500 until Monday due to two days of rain at Daytona International Speedway.
The race was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, although weather forecasts had doubts about that all week. The final practice for drivers was canceled on Saturday, as was the Xfinity Series race.
The Xfinity Series race is now scheduled for Monday morning, hours before the 4 p.m. start for the Daytona 500.
Joey Logano will start on the pole for Team Penske.
The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012. NASCAR completed 20 laps in 2020 before rain halted activity and the race resumed the next day.
NASCAR postponed the season-opening Daytona 500 until Monday after two days of rain
The race was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, although weather forecasts had doubts about that all week
By calling early Sunday, NASCAR avoided fans sitting in the rain waiting for a decision on whether the race would continue. It continued the willingness that NASCAR displayed earlier this month when it moved the Clash exhibit at the Coliseum a full day at short notice due to bad weather toward Los Angeles.
Spire Motorsports driver Zane Smith offered to mingle with fans on social media on Sunday.
“I hate the rain I won today but I’m going to try to make the best of it and meet some of you,” Smith tweeted . ‘Let me know where you’re camping and I’ll come visit you! Maybe we can get a few other drivers along too.”
Added Spire teammate Carson Hocevar: ‘Unfortunate cards we were dealt as a sport, but probably the right choice. “I feel sorry for the fans who saved for this trip and now can’t stay.”
Despite the postponement, NASCAR and Daytona will continue many of the prerace activities, including celebrity visits from singer and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed for more than a full day was in 2012
Pitbull’s prerace concert was canceled. He has already agreed to return next year and perform. Johnson is the Grand Marshal of the race and is tasked with commanding the drivers to start their engines.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Madison Marsh, the reigning Miss America who would drive the pace car and lead the field to the green flag. ‘Although I would of course have loved to drive the pace car, there were so many other parts of this weekend that were fantastic.
“If I can be a part of that, I will never regret coming here. Of course I would have liked to drive, but everything works out as it should.’