Expect rain at the Daytona 500 today. Here’s the stormy forecast for NASCAR race
NASCAR opened last season with a Monday 500 thanks to heavy rainfall in Daytona Beach, Fla., that postponed the annual superspeedway event by a day. With thunderstorms in the forecast this Sunday, that’s again possible.
The Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on FOX. Saturday’s Cup Series final practices were canceled due to rain at the track located in Daytona Beach, Fla.
According to the National Weather Service, there is an 80% chance of showers during the day, and a possible thunderstorm after 1 p.m. AccuWeather’s radar shows rain cells moving through the area in the morning, but storms are not expected to let up through the evening.
There was sun in the sky a few hours before the race and no rain (only light drizzles this morning), but dark clouds hang overhead nearby.
The second Duel at Daytona, won by Austin Dillon, was delayed almost three hours Thursday due to rain. Aric Almirola won the first Duel of the evening.
This story will be updated with the latest weather outlook from the track. Follow the Observer’s NASCAR coverage at charlotteobserver.com/sports and follow NASCAR reporter Alex Andrejev on Twitter at @AndrejevAlex for more updates.
NASCAR Daytona 500 schedule
▪ When: 2:30-6:30 p.m. EST (coverage starts at 2 p.m.)
▪ How to watch/listen: FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
▪ Distance: 200 laps, 500 miles on the 2.5-mile tri-oval
This story was originally published February 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM.
