Daytona 500 postponed 24 hours due to rain

NASCAR has postponed the campaign-opening Daytona 500 until tomorrow because of 2 days of rain at Daytona International Speedway.

NEWS: The #DAYTONA500 has been postponed to Monday at 4 p.m. ET due to inclement weather.

Watch The Great American Race on FOX or listen on @MRNRadio and @SiriusXMNASCAR Radio. pic.twitter.com/JZ4du5USi1

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2024

The race was scheduled to begin today despite practice being canceled yesterday. However, it became clear that the event would be unsafe to go through on Sunday.

The last time that something like this happened was in 2012. NASCAR completed 20 laps in 2020 before rain stopped the event, and they continued 24 hours later.

In deciding fast in the morning, NASCAR prevented supporters from sitting in the rain awaiting a decision on whether the race would start today.

Spire Motorsports pilot Zane Smith shared on social media:

“Hate that we can’t compete today because of the rain, but going to try to make the most of it and meet some of the fans,” Smith revealed. “Let me know where you are and I will try to come find you! Might be able to come with several other drivers, too.”