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Is the Daytona 500 canceled or rescheduled? Weather wiped out Sunday's race, moved to Monday

John Gallas, Dan Rorabaugh and Ken Willis, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·6 min read

BREAKING UPDATES: The Daytona 500 and Xfinity races are today but Monday morning weather forced one more schedule change. This story is updating with details.

The Daytona 500 was postponed Sunday because of rains that washed out the day. Rain has persisted Monday morning and that has caused the Xfinity race to become a nighttime affair.

The Sunday morning forecast for Daytona Beach confirmed fears that rain would spoil Sunday for the 2024 Daytona 500 and the start of the NASCAR Cup season. The Great American Race is now scheduled for a 4 p.m. Monday start.

Now that we know the Daytona 500 is postponed, we also know Monday is a NASCAR doubleheader that officials are calling the first of its kind at Daytona International Speedway. Saturday, just before the green flag was scheduled to wave for the Xfinity Series race, the United Rentals 300, NASCAR sent word that the race would move to 11 a.m. Monday. And then, as this event's weather would have it the race was moved again. The United Rentals 300 is now set for a 9 p.m. start.

Here's what we know.

Can I go to both the Xfinity race and the Daytona 500 on Monday?

According to NASCAR, "Fans with Saturday grandstand tickets and admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone may attend both the NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Daytona 500."

Latest odds: Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin favorites to win Monday's postponed Daytona 500

Will the Daytona 500 be cancelled?

The answer is almost certainly a no, but it was rescheduled to 4 p.m. Monday.

Here is how rain has affected Daytona 500s historically.

  • 1965–66, 2003, 2009: Races shortened due to rain.

  • 2012: Race was postponed from Sunday afternoon to Monday night due to rain and finished after midnight on Tuesday.

  • 2020: Race began on Sunday but finished on Monday evening due to rain.

  • 2021: Race ran on Sunday, but finished after midnight on Monday.

The entire Daytona 500 was moved to Monday in 2012. In 2020, it started on Sunday but rain started shortly after the start, and rest of the race was moved to Monday.

What is the Daytona 500 weather today, rain update?

As a system of low pressure pulls away from East Central Florida, light rain is forecast to diminish through the late-morning, early afternoon. Expect conditions to improve through the afternoon.

There is a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. It'll be mostly cloudy before conditions gradually become sunny. High will be near 62. Lows will drop into the mid 40s tonight. Winds will be out of the north at 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service, Melbourne.

Daytona Beach weather radar

What is the weather forecast for the Daytona 500 on Monday?

There will be a racing doubleheader on Monday, with the Daytona 500 set for 4 p.m. if the weather holds out and Xfinity Series race starting at 9 p.m.. The forecast is better than Sunday:

Chance of rain Monday: 30 percent

Monday temperatures: High of 61 degrees with an overnight low of 45

What are some things to do in Daytona Beach? Movie theaters, shopping, bowling nearby

While the Daytona 500 was rained out, there are still plenty of indoor activities around Daytona Beach for NASCAR fans to enjoy while they wait for the race Monday.

From the Daytona Flea & Farmers Market to the Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club - plus Volusia Top Gun, Daytona Beach's indoor shooting range - there are plenty of things to do to wait out the rain.

When is the Daytona 500?

The race broadcast will begin at 4 p.m. with the green flag dropping about 4:30 p.m. The race will air on Fox. Mike Joy will be the main announcer, with Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick serving as analysts from the booth, Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip contributing, and Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims reporting from pit road.

Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Was the NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona postponed?

Yes. The United Rentals 300 is now scheduled for 9 p.m. Monday.

How to watch the Xfinity United Rentals 300

The United Rentals 300 can be seen on FS1. Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Does NASCAR refund tickets for rain?

Sort of. If the race is postponed, NASCAR's Weather Protection Program allows fans to exchange any unused grandstand ticket for a future race in the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series at another venue. Ticketholders have 60 days after the rescheduled event to contact the ticket office and exchange their tickets.

Fans looking to exchange their tickets after a delay can contact Daytona International Speedway at 1-877-306-7223 or via their website.

There are no cash refunds. If the race is delayed to later Sunday instead of being postponed for another day, ticket exchanges are not eligible.

Why does NASCAR stop for rain?

The tires that stock cars use don't have treads, so there's nothing to grip the track if conditions are even a little slippery. It's the same reason some high-speed roller coasters won't run even if it's just drizzling: The slightest slip could spell disaster.

How does Daytona 500 dry the track in rain?

In 2013, NASCAR introduced the Air Titans, air-compression systems that are embedded in pickup trucks that get the job done in half the time the old jet dryers used to take. The Air Titans blow water off the track at Daytona International Speedway, and a vacuum/sweeper truck follows behind to suck up what's left.

How long does it take to dry the track at the Daytona 500?

How long it takes to dry a track depends on a number of factors, from the makeup of the track to the climate conditions: humidity, cloud cover, wind, etc. The Air Titans can dry the 2.5-mile track at Daytona International Speedway in 90-150 minutes, but in decent conditions it could be done in about an hour.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 weather 2024: Is the race canceled or postponed?