NASCAR Daytona 500 2026 Start Time Moved Up, Latest Weather Forecast for Historic Race

NASCAR has reportedly moved up the Daytona 500 start time on Sunday due to a forecast of inclement weather.

As of 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, the latest hourly forecast for Daytona Beach, Florida called for 91 percent precipitation potential starting at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, per the National Weather Service.

Rain is forecast through Sunday evening and into the early Monday morning hours, so NASCAR is obviously hoping to beat the weather and get the race in beforehand.

A NASCAR race is deemed official if at least 50 percent of the distance if completed. In Sunday's case, the race will be official if at least 250 of the 500 schedules miles are finished. It's a 200-lap race, with each lap being 2.5 miles.

Weather has significantly affected the Daytona 500 since 2020. The race moved from Sunday to Monday in that year, and then in 2021, the Daytona 500 didn't finish until after midnight ET after a five-hour, 40-minute rain delay.

In 2024, the Daytona 500 moved to Monday yet again. Last year, the Daytona 500 moved up an hour.

Now the Daytona 500 is moving up an hour yet again to kick off the NASCAR Cup Series season.