Daytona 500 weather delay: NASCAR drops second red flag due to rain, expected restart time

Just when you thought the rain was over… The Daytona 500 is under a red flag again as a small cell of rain goes over the track. Let’s hope that this is the last delay and we get to the checkered flag later tonight.

We had more than a three-hour red flag earlier in the race after a dozen laps. Then the red flag was lifted and we got back to the track under caution. But only for a brief time.

There is 5 miles until this track is out and it’s moving nearly 60 mph. Behind it is mostly dry and once this is over I feel confident to say we are good to go the rest of the night. #NASCAR @DAYTONA with @RaceWeather pic.twitter.com/EoB6RLYrwz

— Brian Neudorff (@NASCAR_WXMAN) February 16, 2025

It looked like NASCAR was going to luck out, but the Daytona 500 is under another delay at the moment. Don’t go anywhere, it shouldn’t be a long delay.

During the first red flag, the FOX broadcast did their best to keep fans entertained. Drivers came through to the booth and spoke to Jamie McMurray and Chris Myers. There were highlights from past races. Then, they started to show last year’s race replay.

We have only ticked off about 20 laps in this race. There are 200 total. When this race does go green again, the window is open for NASCAR to get the Daytona 500 finished up and declare a winner at the end of the full race length. Shoutout to all those fans still at the track and in the stands.

NASCAR claims that racing will begin at 6:25 PM EST. That means this will be a brief delay ultimately. Let’s just see some green flag racing already.

Clint Bowyer catches a nap during Daytona 500 delay

The folks at NASCAR had about a three-hour delay for rain at the Daytona 500. Clint Bowyer used that time as wisely as possible. With likely a late Sunday night in front of him, the FOX broadcaster decided it was a good time to catch some rest.

Drivers, crew members, and fans alike probably used this rain delay to rest up. If you’re at the track, a weekend at Daytona can be a lot to handle.

For Clint Bowyer, the delay was the perfect time to nap. I’m sure we will have a fired-up and well-rested Bowyer for the rest of the Daytona 500.

NASCAR appears determined to get the Daytona 500 finished tonight. They do not want to race on Monday. The hit the ratings will take is too much to deal with if you don’t have to. Instead, we are going to get primetime Cup Series racing, folks.