If you’re scrambling to figure out what time is the Daytona 500 on today, you’re not alone. It’s the kind of morning where the coffee tastes better, the air feels a little electric, and you're mostly just worried about missing the green flag because you were stuck in the chip aisle at the grocery store.
Honestly, NASCAR fans have it rough with the shifting schedules, but here is the bottom line: The Daytona 500 starts today, February 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET.
You’ve got a little bit of breathing room if you're reading this in the morning, but don’t push it. Pre-race festivities usually kick off an hour or two earlier, and if you care about the flyovers or the intros, you’ll want to be parked on your couch by 1:30 p.m.
Where to Watch and Why the Time Matters
Basically, FOX is your home for the Great American Race. They’ve been doing this forever, so it’s the standard broadcast. If you’re a cord-cutter or just hate cable, you can find the stream on HBO Max or via the FOX Sports app.
Radio fans? MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio have the call if you’re stuck in the car.
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There's always a lot of chatter about "actual" start times versus "television" start times. NASCAR is notorious for a 2:30 p.m. window that doesn't actually see a car move until 2:45 p.m. or later. But with the way weather has been lately, officials are usually pretty eager to get the engines fired right on the dot.
The Drama Behind Today's Starting Grid
You’ve probably seen the headlines. William Byron is trying to do the impossible and snag a third straight win at the World Center of Racing. It’s kinda wild when you think about it—the parity in the Next Gen car usually makes back-to-back wins feel like a miracle, let alone a three-peat.
But it’s not just about the front of the pack.
The real story today might be Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time champ is back in the No. 84 Carvana Toyota, and let’s be real, seeing him out there still feels a bit surreal. He didn't have to sweat the Duels as much this year, but he’s still got that itch to prove he can hang with the young guns.
Then you’ve got guys like Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. These two have won almost everything there is to win in this sport, yet the Daytona 500 trophy remains their White Whale. Busch is entering his 20th attempt. Imagine doing something for 20 years and the biggest prize keeps slipping through your fingers by a matter of inches. That’s the kind of pressure that makes today's 2:30 p.m. start time feel like a countdown to destiny or another heartbreak.
Surprising Details You Might Have Missed
- The Rookie Debut: Keep an eye on Corey Heim in the No. 67. He’s the 23XI prospect everyone is talking about, and making your debut in this race is like learning to swim by being thrown into the middle of the Atlantic during a hurricane.
- The "Open" Underdogs: Justin Allgaier and the JR Motorsports crew are in the field. Seeing a Dale Jr.-owned car in the Cup Series is basically a dream come true for half the grandstands.
- The Madhouse Momentum: A lot of the drivers are still buzzing from the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium a couple of weeks ago. Going from a tiny 1/4-mile "Madhouse" to the 2.5-mile high banks of Daytona is a massive mental shift.
Navigating the Speedweeks Hangover
Speedweeks has been a grind. We’ve seen the Duels, we’ve seen the Truck series chaos on Friday night, and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) yesterday. If you’re feeling a bit of racing fatigue, remember that the 500 is a different beast entirely.
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The strategy is different. The points are heavier.
Most people think it’s just 500 miles of driving in a circle. It’s not. It’s 500 miles of high-speed chess at 190 mph. One wrong move from a guy ten rows back, and suddenly half the field is in the garage. That "Big One" usually happens when someone gets impatient during the pit cycles or tries to force a third lane that just isn't there.
Actionable Steps for Race Day
If you want to actually enjoy the race without frantically googling updates, do these three things right now:
- Sync your DVR: Set it for at least two hours past the expected finish. Rain delays or "Green-White-Checkered" finishes can push this thing toward sunset.
- Check the Weather: As of this morning, things look decent, but Daytona weather is notoriously fickle. If you see clouds, expect the "official" race point to be a big topic of conversation around Lap 100.
- Pick an Underdog: The Next Gen car has made it so anyone can win. Put a mental "bet" on a guy like Anthony Alfredo or Erik Jones. It makes the mid-race lulls way more intense when your dark horse is sniffing the top ten.
The engines fire at 2:30 p.m. ET. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Actionable Next Steps: Check your local listings to confirm the FOX affiliate channel in your area and ensure your streaming apps are updated to avoid any login issues right at the green flag. If you are heading to the track, download the NASCAR Tracks app for real-time gate information and frequency updates for your scanner.