The NASCAR Cup Series has finally arrived at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, the birthplace of the sport! The iconic track has witnessed many things over the time of its existence. Be it the glorious victories or the tragedies. It’s been two decades now since the legendary Dale Earnhardt passed away in Daytona! On February 18, 2001, the 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the most decorated motorsports athletes crashed in a last-lap incident at the Daytona 500.

Daytona always brings thrilling and memorable stories! But Mother Nature has not been so kind this season. Fans crossed their fingers as they sang ‘Rain, rain, stay away.’ And it seems like the rain gods have heard their cry. According to the weather forecast and FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Daytona will be a dry race. The news has fans celebrating!

Rains decide to stay away from the thrilling Daytona race

Recently, NASCAR’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway was plagued by inclement weather. The race was initially delayed for over two hours on Sunday because of heavy rain. After the track was deemed race-ready, the green flag flew, but the action was cut short after just 51 laps when another round of showers forced officials to suspend the event. The remaining 149 laps were postponed until Monday when the race was finally completed under cloudy skies.

This had fans praying for drier conditions, as they did not want Daytona to have the same fate as Michigan. Who would want a Daytona race to be delayed? or, god forbid, canceled and postponed. Fans were a little concerned at first as Bob took to X with his first update, he wrote, “Daytona has posted an alert of a threat of thunderstorm and lightning in the area. So far it has stayed west of the track.” However, as we got closer and closer to the race, the rain seemed to have rerouted.

Bob Pockrass, in his latest update, has fans relieved in another X post he noted, “Weather looking good for tonight here in Daytona.” 

Since 1999, eight of the 25 summer races held there have been delayed, shortened, or postponed because of inclement weather. In 2005, Tony Stewart won the Pepsi 400 at 1:42 a.m. after a rain delay, pushed the start time back by two and a half hours. A decade later, Dale Earnhardt Jr. set a new record for the latest finish, winning the race at 2:40 a.m. However, this year the race kicked off on time without delays, and fans rejoiced!

Fans celebrate as rains avoid the Daytona track

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Nobody likes a delayed race or waiting for a whole day for it to resume in case of postponement. You can imagine what fans would have felt when, in 2015, the Coke Zero 400 started at 11:42 AM, three and a half hours late. In 2004 and 2014, the Xfinity Series races were rained out and moved to the next day. Luckily, nothing of this sort happened for the recent Daytona race. A fan was delighted after Bob’s update. He wrote, “MUSIC TO OUR EARS BOB!!!” Another fan blessed Bob for the good news; he wrote, “From your lips to God’s ears.”