NASCAR‘s most famous race, the Daytona 500, takes center stage on Sunday as Cup Series drivers hit the gas at Daytona International Speedway for the 67th annual race.
The iconic race has been won by some of the biggest names in motorsports history, and another driver will look to add his name to the pantheon and lift the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane.
Denny Hamlin, who won the “Great American Race” in 2016 and back-to-back in 2019-20, will look to cement his place in NASCAR history on Sunday. Another victory would make the Joe Gibbs Racing driver just the third to win the Daytona 500 at least four times – joining Richard Petty (seven) and Cale Yarborough (four).
But Hamlin will face challenges throughout the 41-driver field – which includes seven other former winners – as racers attempt to master the fast speeds and tight packs on the 2.5-mile superspeedway and make the winning move at just the right moment.
USA TODAY will provide all the latest updates, highlights and results of Sunday’s race. Follow along for all the action:
Daytona 500 red-flagged as rain picks up
NASCAR brought all the cars down pit road and displayed the red flag on Lap 11 of the 2025 Daytona 500 as the rain picked up at Daytona International Speedway. Drivers exited their vehicles as crews covered the cars.
Caution flag comes out at Daytona 500 for light rain
Light rain has arrived at the track, bringing out the yellow flag just 10 laps into the race. Rain has hit parts of Central and North Florida but had mostly remained to the North and West of Daytona International Speedway. Defending race winner William Byron was the leading the field when the caution flag came out.
2025 Daytona 500 begins: Let’s go racing
The green flag has dropped for the 67th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Pole winner Chase Briscoe, in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Austin Cindric, in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, lead the field.
Trump takes laps on track before 2025 Daytona 500
Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, took laps with his motorcade around the 2.5-mile oval at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the 2025 Daytona 500.
Drivers who will move to back of field to start Daytona 500
A number of drivers are moving to the rear of the field after switching to backup cars, changing engines or failing technical inspection. In backup cars: Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Alex Bowman, Ty Gibbs, Shane Van Gisbergen and Daniel Suarez. Helio Castroneves’ team changed engines and Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s car failed inspection.
President Donald Trump arrives at Daytona 500
Just a week after attending the Super Bowl, President Donald Trump made an appearance at another great American sporting event, the 2025 Daytona 500.
The 47th president arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida a little after 1 p.m. ET and at Daytona International Speedway shortly after as some drivers and team owners awaited Trump’s arrival. The President took a lap around the 2.5-mile track and received loud cheers when he was shown as the national anthem neared its conclusion.
When is the 2025 Daytona 500?
The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The time was moved up one hour from the original 2:30 p.m. start due to weather concerns.
What TV channel is the 2025 Daytona 500 on?
The 2025 Daytona 500 will be televised nationally on Fox.
Will there be a live stream of the 2025 Daytona 500?
The 2025 Daytona 500 can be streamed on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. For those looking to cut the cord, the race can also be streamed on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
Watch the 2025 Daytona 500 on Fubo
What is the weather forecast for the 2025 Daytona 500?
Don’t be surprised if rain delays or temporarily halts any portion of the race, with a 60% chance of precipitation in the afternoon hours, according to National Weather Service. The forecast is for mostly cloudy skies early before transitioning to cloudy and windy, with gusts as high as 35 mph. The temperature is expected to be around 80 degrees for the start of the race.
How many laps is the 2025 Daytona 500?
The race is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 500 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) – Stage 1: 65 laps; Stage 2: 65 laps; Stage 3: 70 laps.
Daytona 500 2025: Odds to win
Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski are currently the favorites to win the Daytona 500, according to BetMGM. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 16.
- Ryan Blaney: +1200
- Joey Logano: +1200
- Denny Hamlin: +1200
- Kyle Busch: +1200
- Brad Keselowski: +1500
- Kyle Larson: +1600
- Chase Elliott: +1600
- William Byron: +2000
- Bubba Wallace +2000
- Christopher Bell +2000
- Chris Buescher: +2000
- Austin Cindric: +2000
- Chase Briscoe +2500
- Tyler Reddick +3000
- Alex Bowman +3000
- Ross Chastain +3000
- Todd Gilliland +3000
- Justin Allgaier +3000
Who won the pole position for the 2025 Daytona 500?
Chase Briscoe, who posted the fastest time in Wednesday’s pole qualifying, will start on the pole for the 67th annual Daytona 500 in his first race with Joe Gibbs Racing. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric will start second after qualifying second. Bubba Wallace, of 23XI Racing, and Erik Jones, of Legacy Motor Club, will start on Row No. 2 after their finishes in Thursday’s Daytona Duel races.
What is the lineup for the 2025 Daytona 500?
(Starting position in parentheses)
- (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
- (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
- (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
- (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
- (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
- (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
- (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
- (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
- (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
- (22) Joey Logano, Ford
- (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
- (01) Corey LaJoie, Ford
- (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
- (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
- (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
- (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
- (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
- (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
- (40) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet
- (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
- (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
- (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
- (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
- (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
- (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
- (88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
- (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
- (51) Cody Ware, Ford
- (21) Josh Berry, Ford
- (41) Cole Custer, Ford
- (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
- (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
- (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
- (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
- (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
- (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
- (38) Zane Smith, Ford
- (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
- (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
- (84) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota
- (91) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet
Daytona 500 predictions: Who will win 2025 race?
USA TODAY: Look for Logano to come out on top
Ellen J. Horrow writes: “It’s hard to bet against Joey Logano, who comes into Daytona with a ton of momentum. The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, who captured his third career title in November in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, brings both experience and speed to Sunday’s race. The Team Penske driver, who finished fourth in Wednesday’s pole qualifying and fifth in Daytona Duel No. 2 Thursday night, is one of the best superspeedway racers and knows how to maneuver in the pack racing at Daytona International Speedway. While it’s been 10 years since he captured his lone Daytona 500 victory, Logano finished second in 2023 and fourth in both 2018 and 2019.”
Daytona Beach News-Journal: History favors Hamlin, Blaney
Ken Willis writes: “Denny Hamlin: For now, you simply play the odds. Of the 40 or 41 drivers who suit up Sunday, Denny is the only three-time winner.”
Chris Vinel writes: “Ryan Blaney: He simply feels like a guy who’s going to win one of these – maybe sooner rather than later. He’s twice finished as the Daytona 500 runner-up (2017, 2020) and five times cracked the top 10.”
The Athletic: Bell, Blaney could take checkered flag
Jeff Gluck writes: “Christopher Bell…crashed in four of his first six Daytona races. Since then, he has gone third-16th-third-third. He told us this week it’s simply his luck that has turned around at this place rather than doing something much different than before. … With a record 11 Toyotas in the race, there should be a better chance for one of them to break through this year, even if a bunch get swept up in a wreck. And I’ll take Bell to do it.”
Jordan Bianchi writes: “Ryan Blaney is one of the best on superspeedways, and while he’s come close to winning the Daytona 500 on multiple occasions, he hasn’t yet. This changes on Sunday.”
Who won last year’s Daytona 500?
William Byron won the 66th annual Daytona 500 to kick off the 2024 season. The 26-year-old edged Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman at the checkered flag. Byron’s win gave team owner Rick Hendrick a record-tying nine Daytona 500 victories, becoming the sixth different driver in the team’s history to win the iconic race.
Which drivers have won the most Daytona 500 races?
*-active driver
- Richard Petty … 7
- Cale Yarborough … 4
- Bobby Allison … 3
- Jeff Gordon … 3
- *-Denny Hamlin … 3
- Dale Jarrett … 3
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