The Daytona 500 is postponed until Monday. What do NASCAR drivers do during a rain delay?
The Daytona 500 has officially been postponed due to rain.
The news was handed down by NASCAR early on Sunday morning, setting the running of the 66th Daytona 500 for a 4 p.m. start time on Monday.
Bummer.
A dubious forecast loomed throughout the week and Sunday, it came into fruition as showers doused the World Center of Racing. Originally, the race was slated for a 3:11 p.m. green flag.
But have you ever wondered what your favorite NASCAR driver does when a race is delayed?
Well, wonder no more! Because we asked!
One thing is for sure, they eat! Well, maybe not AJ Allmendinger, but nearly every one else!
So, what do drivers eat under delay? Where do they go? What do they do?
Here’s what some of the Cup Series’ biggest stars said about their doings in the down time.
Daytona weather radar
What is the weather forecast for the Daytona 500 on Monday?
There will be a racing doubleheader on Monday, with the Xfinity Series race starting at 11 p.m. and the Daytona 500 set for 4 p.m. if the weather holds out. The forecast is much better than Sunday:
Chance of rain Monday: 20 percent
Monday temperatures: High of 62 degrees
National Weather Service forecast summary: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 62. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
When is the Daytona 500?
Start time: 4 p.m.
Date: Monday, February 19
TV: Fox
Streaming: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app (TV provider log-in required), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV
The race broadcast will remain the same and 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.
AJ Allmendinger
“Just don’t eat a lot because the belts get tight really quick in a rain delay.”
Austin Dillon
“I don’t even look at the weather, man. I know I’ve got to be here, why look at it? Either way. It just creates anxiety and gets you down so, there’s no reason to look at it when I know that my job entails me to be here until this race is over
“Luckily the kids are here. Watch TV, the regular things … eat.”
John Hunter Nemechek
“It’s kind of spur of the moment stuff. Depends on how long it’s going to be. Normally try to rest and rest up for when we do go racing. There’s so many different things you can do. I feel like the trailer always ends up with no snacks left, let’s put it that way.
“You’ve got to eat. You can’t not eat. It’s trying to get prepped the best you can before you go race but with a rain delay, you never know when that’s going to be.”
David Ragan
“I usually try to relax and eat because you don’t know when you’re going back racing. I’ll watch some video and kind of digest what has just happened but man, peanut butter and jellies and drinking as much electrolytes and some water … I’m kind of a naturally skinny guy already so I better eat something while we have some time to relax.
William Byron
“Eat a lot of Oreos — Oreos, fruit snacks, lots of stuff. I don’t know, not a lot of healthy things but typically just try to keep the mind at ease, for sure.”
As for which kind Byron prefers?
“Just the regular or Double Stuf. Tried the hot cocoa ones this year, they weren’t so hot”
Kyle Larson
“I know we’ve gotten Chipotle before, we used to have an Xbox so I used to play that some. Now, I’m pretty sure I’ve watched Disney movies through rain delay.
“I was bummed one time. (Larson’s wife and others) they were having like a taco night on my bus and they were all drinking margaritas and stuff and I’m like sitting here and I wanted one so bad but I had to go race.”
Chris Buescher
“Sit on the pit box typically. I don’t have pockets in my fire suit, so, I don’t have to take my cell phone with me. That’s by design because I really don’t like this thing. That means if I go too far away during a rain delay, I don’t know when to go back. So, I just got to the pit box and hang out. At that point, someone will find me.”
Martin Truex Jr.
“Everything. Everything in the coach gets eaten.”
Ross Chastain
“Even if I’ve eaten and prepared, if we run 10 laps of a race and get out of the car, I’m looking for food. It’s my natural, nervous instinct – to eat.
“Even though we’re not racing, we’re burning calories. The nerves, the adrenaline, the heart rate is up. It’s just impossible to not need to take in more calories.”
FROM 2021 DAYTONA 500: Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain drive to Panda Express, McDonald's during rain delay
Austin Cindric
“I can take a nap just about anywhere. When it rained in the middle of the (Daytona) 500 in 2021, I fell asleep, and when they told me it was time to go back racing, I said, ‘Wow, that was fast.’ And they told me, ‘No, it’d been three or four hours.’
“At Chicago, I fell asleep on the pit box. They woke me up to say, ‘We’re going green in 15 minutes.’
Ty Gibbs
“There are times, if we’re in the middle of a race, if I’m struggling, my team sends me something to watch to see where I can get better.
“I eat well and try to hydrate the proper way.”
Zane Smith
“A whole lot of nothing. Scroll social media, eat, just hang out, really. Listen to the jet dryers.
“I’m a big fruit snack guy. Just whatever I can get my hands on, really.”
Justin Haley
“Usually just sit on the pit box. I feel like I’m that guy that never wants to be late to anything, so, I’m always like an hour early. So, it’s super stressful. If it’s just kind of sprinkling, I feel like I just have to be close to the car.”
Brad Keselowski
“Usually eat too much. Peanut butter and jelly, oh yeah, I like to put it on a King’s Hawaiian roll … I always know where I can get a peanut butter and jelly.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 postponed: Here's what NASCAR drivers do while they wait
