The Daytona 500 is today. Here’s how to watch, starting lineup and race information

NASCAR is already off to the races thanks to earlier Speedweeks events that offered an exciting preview of the upcoming season. Defending Xfinity champion Austin Cindric won Saturday’s overtime race at Daytona International Speedway, and Ben Rhodes secured a win in the Truck Series at the track Friday.

Cup drivers Aric Almirola and Austin Dillon battled through traffic (and Dillon through a rain-delayed second Duel) Thursday evening to finalize the Daytona 500 lineup after Kyle Busch’s late-lap victory in the Busch Clash Tuesday. There’s more racing to come on NASCAR’s biggest stage.

The 63rd annual Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on FOX.

All times listed are ET.

Sunday’s NASCAR schedule

• Daytona 500 Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. on FOX
• When: 2:30-6:30 p.m.
• How to watch/listen: FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Distance: 200 laps, 500 miles on the 2.5-mile tri-oval
• Stages: 65, 130, 200
• About the race: Sunday’s Daytona 500 opens the 2021 NASCAR season. Denny Hamlin won his second consecutive Daytona 500 last year (third overall) and is favored to win this year’s race, per BetMGM odds.

What’s happening today around NASCAR

• The Thunderbirds. 9:30 a.m. This is the 11th straight year they are performing flyover for the Daytona 500.

Lieutenant Colonel John Caldwell said they are monitoring the weather today, as visibility is a major factor in being able to perform the flyover and rain is in the forecast.

“We’re gonna be hopeful today,” Caldwell said. “We’re gonna keep an eye on the sky for sure, but if we’re gonna be able to run the cars, then there’s a good chance we’ll be able to fly as well. (It’s) very close in terms of our go, no-go decisions.”

• Country Music Star Luke Combs. 10:45 a.m. Combs is performing the pre-race concert in person.

Combs said he hasn’t played a live show in almost a year because of the pandemic. This will be his first Daytona 500 performance and he’ll perform two of his new songs, “Cold As You” and “Forever After All.” He’s picking Bubba Wallace to win the Daytona 500.

“I’m gonna go Bubba Wallace (to win),” Combs said. “I’m saying he’s making history today.”

• Pitbull. 12:15 p.m. The new co-owner of Cup team Trackhouse Racing will be the grand marshal for the Daytona 500.

Pitbull said he told driver Daniel Suárez to drive his car like he stole it: “Step on the gas and let’s go!” he says. He’s fired up for today and said he’ll mix it up for the command.

Daytona 500 starting order

* Open car, # rookie

Note: William Byron, Brad Keselowski, Chase Briscoe, Kaz Grala, Anthony Alfredo, Cole Custer and Ross Chastain are all switching to backup cars after damage from the Duels and will have to drop to the rear at the start. Mechanical work on cars for Martin Truex Jr. and Erik Jones are also reportedly sending them to the back.

Stories around NASCAR you might like:

• What Dale Earnhardt did for NASCAR: A lasting legacy and safer sport
• Four most important things NASCAR president Steve Phelps said ahead of the 2021 season
• The story of Ryan Newman’s Daytona 500 NASCAR crash, as told by his dad
• A journey to Dale Earnhardt’s NC roots, 20 years after his death at the Daytona 500
• Pitbull on all the forces — and people — that inspired him to invest in a NASCAR team

This story was originally published February 14, 2021 at 10:15 AM with the headline "The Daytona 500 is today. Here’s how to watch, starting lineup and race information."

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription