NASCAR is all set for the season-opening Daytona 500, which is scheduled for this Sunday, February 15, at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. This season marks the 68th running of the event that has been opening the NASCAR Cup Series season since 1982.
The race has 200 laps, divided into three stages. The first two stages have 65 laps each, and the last one will be 70 laps. The typical runtime for the Daytona 500 is about four hours.
As of now, 36 chartered entries are locked in. According to unofficial NASCAR reports, the ‘Open’ drivers battling for a spot in the 41-car field include Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Corey Heim, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Casey Mears, Chandler Smith, and JJ Yeley.
Both heat races will be held on February 12 at 7 pm and 8:45 pm ET. Qualifying is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, at 8:15 p.m. ET. The main race starts at 2:30 pm ET on Sunday, with live coverage on FOX, and exclusive radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
That being said, Mother Nature is often known to ravage the crown jewel event. Last year, there were not one but two delays, stretching the race by three hours and 30 minutes. This year, the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray was also delayed due to inclement weather, taking more than three and a half hours to complete.
On Tuesday morning, Fox Weather predicted temperatures in the high 70s with a 60 percent chance of rain.
William Byron sends a clear message ahead of the 2026 Daytona 500
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, who won the last two editions of the Daytona 500, has his eyes set on a possible hat trick in 2026. However, no driver in the sport’s history has won the Daytona 500 three times in a row.
In fact, no NASCAR team has won the Daytona 500 three times in a row. So it will be historic if Byron does it.
“I know we’ve been fortunate to win two in a row, and I feel confident we’ll be as prepared as we can be for this weekend,” the Chevy icon said in a statement. “There’s some luck that goes into even being there at the end of the race, I know that.; that’s not a question. I also feel like I have the experience, too, to go with that. All we can do is control what we can control.”
“But I also know that myself and this team are going to do everything we can control to put ourselves in position for a third. I know we have the team and the car for it,” he added.
All eyes are now on the 500-mile marquee event.
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