Could weather impact the Daytona 500?
For the second consecutive year, weather could affect the running of the Daytona 500.
According to The Weather Channel, rain is expected throughout the week with the highest forecasted chance of precipitation in Daytona Beach, Fla. expected Sunday, the scheduled day for The Great American Race.
Three times in the history of the race has the Daytona 500 been moved to the next day because of inclement weather (2012, 2020 and 2024).
In 2012, the race was moved to a primetime Monday night slot which saw Matt Kenseth earn his second Daytona 500 victory in four years.
In 2020, the first 20 laps raced on Sunday before rain moved the rest of the event to Monday, which saw Denny Hamlin win his third Daytona 500 in NASCAR Overtime and Ryan Newman injured in a last-lap crash.
Last year, William Byron was leading at the white flag when a last lap crash had the race end under caution, earning the driver his first Daytona 500 win.
DAY-BY-DAY FORECAST
Thursday, Feb. 13.: 84°F is the expected high with a 57 percent chance of daytime precipitation. As the sun sets, precipitation chances decrease to 24 percent.
The first Duel is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET while the second Duel is scheduled for approximately 8:45 p.m. ET.
Friday, Feb. 14: With a high of 73°F, the forecast calls for a mostly cloud day with rain chances throughout the day and night hovering around 20 percent.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Saturday, Feb. 15: A high temperature of 76°F is expected with rain chances around 20 percent and dropping to 7 percent by night.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series opener is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Sunday, Feb. 16: At this time, rain chances for Sunday show 61 percent throughout the day with rain chances dropping to 33 percent at night.
The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.
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Dominic Aragon View All
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book "All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story" with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.