NASCAR Moves Up Daytona 500 Start Time Due to Expected Rain

The green flag is now scheduled for 2:13 p.m. ET, an hour earlier than originally set.

Feb. 14, 2026 at 8:31pm

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Due to the potential of inclement weather later in the day, NASCAR is adjusting the start time for Sunday's Daytona 500, with the league's biggest race now slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. The green flag is now scheduled for 2:13 p.m. ET, an hour earlier than originally set, the league announced Saturday.

Why it matters

This marks the second year in a row NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway have had to adjust the Daytona 500 start time due to weather likely impacting the race, and a continuation of a recent trend of poor weather necessitating a rescheduling of the race.

The details

Rain is forecasted for the Daytona Beach, Fla., area in the early evening and by moving up the start time by an hour, NASCAR is hoping to avoid any delays that would prevent the entire 500-mile/200-lap race distance from being completed. A race is scored as official if half the scheduled distance is completed.

  • The green flag is now scheduled for 2:13 p.m. ET, an hour earlier than originally set.

The players

NASCAR

The sanctioning body that organizes and oversees the Daytona 500 and other major stock car racing events.

Daytona International Speedway

The racetrack in Daytona Beach, Florida that hosts the annual Daytona 500 NASCAR race.

William Byron

The two-time defending Daytona 500 champion.

Kyle Busch

A NASCAR driver who is winless in 20 prior attempts to win the Daytona 500.

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What’s next

The race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The takeaway

NASCAR's decision to move up the start time of the Daytona 500 highlights the increasing challenges the sport faces due to unpredictable weather patterns, underscoring the need for greater flexibility and contingency planning to ensure the marquee event can be completed as scheduled.