Rain Pushes Daytona 500 To Monday In First Outright Postponement Since 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: NASCAR has postponed the season-opening Daytona 500 till Monday due to two days of rain at Daytona International Speedway.

The race had been scheduled for Sunday afternoon, though the climate forecast put that unsure all week. The closing apply for drivers was canceled Saturday, as was the Xfinity Series race.

The Xfinity Series race is now scheduled to be held Monday morning, hours forward of the 4 p.m. begin for the Daytona 500.

Joey Logano is ready to begin from the pole for Team Penske.

The final time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012. NASCAR accomplished 20 laps in 2020 earlier than rain halted exercise, and the race resumed the following day.

In making the early name Sunday, NASCAR prevented followers from sitting within the rain awaiting a choice on whether or not the race would proceed. It continued a willingness NASCAR exhibited earlier this month when it moved the exhibition Clash on the Coliseum up a full day on little discover due to poor climate headed towards Los Angeles.

Spire Motorsports driver Zane Smith provided on social media to mingle with followers Sunday.

“Hate the rain won today but going to try to make the most of it and meet some of you guys,” Smith tweeted. “Let me know your camp spot and I will try to come find you! Might be able to drag a few other drivers along too.”

Added Spire teammate Carson Hocevar: “Unfortunate cards we have been dealt as a sport, but probably the right call. Feel bad for the fans that saved up for this trip and now can’t stay.”

Despite the postponement, NASCAR and Daytona continued most of the prerace actions, together with movie star visits from singer and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Pitbull’s prerace live performance was scrapped. He already agreed to return subsequent yr and carry out then. Johnson is the race’s grand marshal, tasked with delivering the command for drivers to begin their engines.

“Everything happens for a reason,” mentioned Madison Marsh, the reigning Miss America who was scheduled to drive the tempo automotive and lead the sector to the inexperienced flag. “Although I would have loved, obviously, to get to drive the pace car, there have been so many other parts of this weekend that have been fantastic.

“Just getting to be a part of that, I’m never going to regret coming here. … Obviously would have liked to drive, but everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)