Daytona 500 moved up 1 hour due to storm threat

NASCAR's biggest race will start earlier on Sunday to avoid potential weather delays.

Feb. 15, 2026 at 11:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Daytona 500 has been moved up by 1 hour to a 1:30 p.m. ET start time due to the threat of storms in the Daytona Beach area on Sunday. The 66th running of 'The Great American Race' will feature 41 drivers, led to the green flag by pole-sitter Kyle Busch. Former 7-time champion Jimmie Johnson is also in the field thanks to an Open Exemption Provisional.

Why it matters

Daytona is one of NASCAR's marquee events, and moving the start time up an hour helps ensure the full race can be completed without weather interruptions. This is especially important given the unpredictable nature of the Daytona 500, where anything can happen.

The details

NASCAR has moved the start time of the 2026 Daytona 500 up by 1 hour to 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday due to the threat of storms in the Daytona Beach area. The race was originally scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. ET. The 66th running of the Daytona 500 will feature 41 drivers competing for the Harley J. Earl trophy, led to the green flag by pole-sitter Kyle Busch.

  • The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • The race start time has been moved up 1 hour to 1:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Kyle Busch

The pole-sitter for the 2026 Daytona 500, looking for his first win in the 'Great American Race' in 21 starts.

Jimmie Johnson

The 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is being granted an Open Exemption Provisional, allowing him to compete in the Daytona 500 without earning championship points or prize money.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Moving up the Daytona 500 start time is a prudent decision to try to avoid weather delays and ensure the full race can be completed. Fans will be eager to see if William Byron can make history with a third straight Daytona 500 win, or if a new champion will emerge.