Start time adjusted for Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 at Daytona

NASCAR is working hard to make sure they can get this United Rentals 300 race in on time at Daytona International Speedway. They see a break in the weather that is going to allow them to move the race up half an hour. Start time is now 4:30 PM EST.

Originally scheduled for 5:00 PM EST, NASCAR moved it up half an hour. This will give the race a chance of happening, at least.

At the very least, the hope is that this race goes to halfway and it becomes official no matter what the rain does. Qualifying is set to take off at 1:30 PM here in a few minutes. That session was delayed.

Will the United Rentals 300 happen today? It looked impossible just this morning. Now, we have cars ready to qualify. So, there is a little bit of hope, folks.

UPDATE: Green flag for today's #XfinitySeries race at @DAYTONA will be at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to FS1 for updates.

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) February 17, 2024

It is all about hitting that window in the weather. Mother Nature has given NASCAR a pass, at least for now, and they have to take full advantage of it before things get nasty again on the track.

This weekend looked like it was going to be a washout. Now there is an opening for the United Rentals 300, at least ideally. While qualifying looks like it will be able to get the session complete, the weather is always tricky.

United Rentals 300 gets new life, for now

The qualifying session today for the United Rentals 300 is going to just be a single round. The top-10 drivers will not advance to a second round. So, that puts a lot more pressure on these teams to perform on the track in their single lap.

If by chance the rain comes in while qualifying is underway and cannot finish, all times will be thrown out. The grid would then be set by owners points. That would make Daniel Dye, Natalie Decker, Caesar Bacarella, Joey Gase, David Starr, and Stanton Barrett the DNQs. Those drivers are not in cars with enough points.

33 drivers will make the 38-car field on qualifying speed. Then there will be five spots for owners points, and possibly, if needed, a provisional for a 2023 race-winning driver.

A lot of people can get doom and gloom when rain is in the area. This shows that you can’t just throw your hands up and say “Forget it!” You have to let things play out and adjust when you can. If now, why come out anyway? Let’s hope we get to see this United Rentals 300 tonight.