Daytona 500: What time will the race start on Sunday? What time does it end? Details

The Daytona 500 headlines NASCAR weekend on Feb 15; rain delayed the 200-lap race from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET, lasting around 3.5 to 4 hours.

Updated on: Feb 15, 2026 10:12 PM IST

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The NASCAR weekend this February concludes with the iconic Daytona 500 race in the NASCAR Cup series on Sunday, February 15. Sunday's 200-lap race is the big headliner of the event, which earlier held the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season-opener and the ARCA 200 on Saturday.

NASCAR cheerleaders pose for photos on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026. (Getty Images via AFP)

The race on Sunday was originally scheduled to start at 12pm ET on Sunday. However, due to the forecasted rains in Daytona Beach, Florida, NASCAR postponed the race by one-and-half hours to 1:30pm ET. It usually takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to complete the race.

Why Was Sunday's Daytona 500 Postponed?

NASCAR announced on Saturday that the start time for the race at the Florida International Speedway has been postponed amid the rain forecast around 12pm (ET) on Sunday. Thunderstorms are expected early in the day with a 70% chance of rain during midday. By 1:30pm, the sky is expected to clear with the race proceeding normally.

Daytona 500 Start Time Across Time Zones

Here's when to watch the game in the US across different time zones:

Here’s 1:30 pm ET converted across major US time zones:

CT (Central Time): 12:30pm

MT (Mountain Time): 11:30am

PT (Pacific Time): 10:30am

AKT (Alaska Time): 9:30am

HT (Hawaii Time): 8:30am

Also read: McLeod 9: NASCAR driver B.J. McLeod fails to qualify for Daytona 500 until DQ earns surprise start

How Long Is The Daytona 500 Race?

The Daytona 500 is 500 miles long, run over 200 laps of Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile track. It usually takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to complete, depending on cautions, crashes, and weather.

Thus, if the green flag is at 1:30pm ET then the race is expected to end around 5:30pm ET.

How To Watch Daytona 500 Live?

The Daytona 500 NASCAR race can be watched live on Fox Sports on TV. It can also be streamed on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial for first time subscriber.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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