Florida in February is a gamble. You've got the ocean breeze, the buzz of Speedweeks, and the constant, nagging threat of a pop-up thunderstorm ruining the party. If you're staring at a "Race Halted" graphic on your TV or huddling under the grandstands at the World Center of Racing, you're only asking one thing: when will the Daytona 500 resume? It's frustrating. Honestly, nobody likes a red flag, especially for something as unpredictable as weather. But NASCAR has a very specific playbook for these moments. The 2026 Daytona 500 is officially scheduled for Sunday, February 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET, but as history shows us—most recently in 2025—Mother Nature doesn't always check the TV guide.
The Drying Game: When Will the Daytona 500 Resume?
Basically, the resumption of the race depends on two things: the radar and the Air Titans. Once the rain stops falling, the clock starts. Daytona is a 2.5-mile superspeedway with massive 31-degree banking. You can't just send 40 cars out there at 200 mph on a damp track. It’s a death wish.
NASCAR uses a fleet of "Air Titan" drying systems. These things are beasts. They use high-pressure air to blast water off the asphalt and into the apron. Usually, it takes about 90 to 120 minutes to dry the track completely after a heavy downpour, provided the humidity isn't through the roof.
If the rain clears by late afternoon, NASCAR will push hard to finish on Sunday night. They have lights. They have the audience. They really don't want to move the Great American Race to a Monday. But there is a "cutoff" point. If the track isn't dry by roughly 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. ET, and more rain is looming, they’ll pull the plug and move it to the following day.
Monday Afternoon: The Backup Plan
What if Sunday is a wash? It happens. We saw it in 2020 and 2024. If the race is postponed, the standard "when will the Daytona 500 resume" answer is almost always Monday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Why 4:00 p.m.? It gives the fans time to get back to the track or get home from work to watch. Plus, it allows the local crews to clear any standing water that might have accumulated overnight. If you have tickets, they’re still valid for the Monday restart. FOX usually handles the broadcast duties for the Monday slot as well.
The Halfway Rule
There is a catch. If the race has already reached "official" status, it might not resume at all. A race is official if:
- The field has completed 100 laps (the halfway point of the 200-lap race).
- The end of Stage 2 has been reached.
If the sky opens up on Lap 105 and the radar looks like a bowl of green and yellow soup for the next six hours, NASCAR can simply declare the leader the winner. It's a bittersweet way to win the biggest race of the year, but the history books don't care about rain delays.
Checking the 2026 Forecast
Current long-range outlooks for the February 15 weekend in Daytona Beach suggest a typical Florida pattern. We’re looking at highs in the low 70s. However, the Old Farmer's Almanac and early meteorological models for 2026 are pointing toward slightly above-average precipitation for the Florida peninsula this winter.
This doesn't mean a washout is guaranteed. It just means you should probably pack a poncho alongside your driver gear.
Where to Get Real-Time Updates
Don't rely on old tweets. If the red flag is out, these are your best bets for the exact minute the engines will re-fire:
- The NASCAR App: This is the fastest way to see "Track Drying" status.
- Radio: Tune into MRN (Motor Racing Network) or SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. They stay on the air even during delays.
- The Weather Underground Radar: Look for the "Daytona International Speedway" station. If the green blobs are moving east toward the Atlantic, you’re in luck.
Survival Tips for a Delay
If you're at the track and the race is halted, don't just sit in your seat. The concourses get packed and miserable.
Head toward the Fanzone if you have a pass; often, the driver Q&A sessions or displays stay active under cover. If you’re at home, keep the TV on FOX. They’ll usually run vintage race footage or "best of" segments to kill time. Honestly, some of those old 1980s or 90s Daytona highlights are better than the pre-race show anyway.
The most important thing to remember is that NASCAR wants this race finished just as badly as you do. They’ll stay at the track until midnight if there’s a window of clear sky. The jet dryers are already fueled up and waiting.
To stay prepared for the 68th running of the Great American Race, make sure your mobile notifications are turned on for the NASCAR official app. If you're traveling, keep a flexible schedule for that Monday just in case the Florida weather decides to play spoiler. Monitor the local Daytona Beach radar starting around 1:00 p.m. ET on race day to see if any development might push the start time or cause an early-race stoppage.