Daytona 500 Start Time Moved Up One Hour by NASCAR

With potential inclement weather in the forecast for the Daytona Beach, Florida area late Sunday, NASCAR announced that the Daytona 500 will move up one hour from its originally scheduled start time. The 2025 edition of the Daytona 500 will now begin at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Gates and hospitality will now open at 9 a.m. ET, with the Hard Rock Bet fanzone opening at 8:30 a.m. ET. Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. ET.

Pre-race ceremonies will still take place with the adjusted schedule, including a pre-race performance by Miranda Lambert and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flyover.

Kyle Busch will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday after winning the pole position during Wednesday evening's qualifying session. He will be joined on the front row by Chase Briscoe.

William Byron is seeking history, with hopes of becoming the first driver to win the event in three consecutive years. He will do so in a backup car after being involved in a crash during Thursday's qualifying races.

Fans can find additional schedule details for pre-race festivities in light of the schedule change in the track's fan guide at daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Television and radio coverage will remain as planned with the adjusted start time. Fans can tune in to the 68th Daytona 500 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

-Photo credit: Ricky Martinez/Racing America