The grandstands of Daytona International Speedway are set to kick off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series. Fans eagerly wait for months to witness the high-speed action in the 500-mile race. However, this year’s event has been surrounded by uncertainty because of the looming threat of bad weather. NASCAR officials moved the green flag up by an hour in hopes of avoiding potential delays.

Despite this precaution, Mother Nature remains a major concern. The weather has already disrupted multiple events leading up to the Daytona 500. Heavy rain washed out ARCA practice and Qualifying session while delaying other events too. Now, everything has come down to the last event of the weekend and the latest weather forecast has put everyone on the edge.

Will the Daytona 500 survive the Sunday test?

Weather has always been an unpredictable factor at Daytona. Last year, rain forced officials to postpone the race to Monday. After multiple delays in the last three days, NASCAR took a precautionary measure to prepone the race. However, the latest weather predictions are not looking good for the Great American Race.

As of early Sunday morning, the National Weather Service predicted a 70% chance of precipitation. While the start of the race may remain dry, storms are expected between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Strong winds, with gusts up to 35 mph, could further delay the drying of the track. Meanwhile, WESH’s weather team has acknowledged that an earlier start might allow NASCAR to get through part of the race before rain arrives.

“We are expecting showers and storms this afternoon! With the earlier start to the Daytona 500, we could get in the start of the race BEFORE the storms arrive. But rain could cause a delay later in the race as this line moves over DAB around 3 PM,” WESH tweets. Notably, NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck also expects a delay in the race. “Green flag at 2 p.m., so should get like 150 miles in, maybe? Then a delay for a while,” says Gluck.

Rain has already disrupted racing days earlier in the week. On Thursday, heavy showers washed out ARCA Menards Series practice, leaving drivers without any track time to prepare for their season opener. Shortly after, NASCAR had to cancel Truck Series practice due to heavy showers. After ‘un-affected’ Friday, Saturday started with showers. It led to the cancellation of ARCA qualifying, which affected a lot of drivers.

However, the forecast for Sunday remains concerning. If the race is delayed significantly, NASCAR may have no choice but to push the event to Monday. For now, teams remain on standby, hoping to get through the race without another frustrating postponement. Notably, the uncertainty at Daytona has already taken a toll, especially on young ARCA drivers.

Trending

1

NASCAR Star Drops Life-Changing Announcement as Racing Community Melts Over Welcome Surprise

2

3x Daytona 500 Champ Left in Tears Accompanying Tony Stewart’s Rival Into the Motorsport Hall of Fame

3

Richard Petty’s Son Betrays the King’s NASCAR Legacy With Humble Dale Earnhardt Claim

4

Kyle Larson Uncovers Welcome $18 Million Surprise Amidst NASCAR’s Michael Jordan Lawsuit Tussle

5

NASCAR’s Potential $7.7 Billion Blunder Highlighted by Xfinity Series Major Drop After Phoenix

ARCA’s lack of practice wreaked havoc in Daytona

The ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona was supposed to be a dream come true for many young drivers. However, rain delays caused a lot of issues for ARCA teams as their practice and qualifying sessions were canceled. The lack of practice and the nature of Daytona International Speedway turned the season opener into a wreck-fest.

With a lot of rookies in the fray, trouble started on Lap 5 of the race when Cody Dennison lost control in Turn 4, triggering a multi-car pileup. Drivers like Dale Quarterley and Corey Day failed to avoid the crash as they were taken out in the wreck. However, the most terrifying crash came on Lap 12, when Amber Balcaen spun across the track. He collected multiple cars, including Craig Bracken. The veteran driver had multiple collisions before hitting the inside wall. Medical crews rushed to his aid before he was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

While Bracken is out of the danger, the lack of practice and potential rain threats remain a concern for fans and drivers. Notably, the upcoming Daytona 500 will also have some exciting entries. IndyCar champion Helio Castroneves will make his NASCAR Cup series debut. Meanwhile, a few driver transfers have also dominated the headlines. However, now all attention turns back to the skies as NASCAR hopes to dodge any other weather-related delays.