After all the preparatory events for the Cup Series, the Daytona 500 is almost here. There will be a lot to see in Sunday’s race.
Denny Hamlin aims to become the first driver in Daytona 500 history to win the race for the third consecutive time. Chase Elliott aims to become the first reigning champion to win this race since 2000. Bubba Wallace aims to give team owners Michael Jordan and Hamlin their first victory in 23XI Racing’s first points cup race.
Alex Bowman starts on pole while Hendrick Motorsports aims to win the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2014 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ryan Blaney has finished second in the Daytona 500 in two of the last four years, taking his first victory in the event.
Maybe one of those events will take place on Sunday. Or something else happens in the season opening race.
Details for Sunday’s Daytona 500
(All times are Eastern)
GET STARTED: Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull will order engines to start 2:53 pm. The green flag will be waved at 3:05 pm
PREVIOUS: Garage opens at 10:30 am Luke Combs concert starts at 1:30 pm Driver introductions are at 2:05 pm Invocation is given at 2:46 pm. The national anthem is performed at 2:47 pm, followed by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds flying past.
DISTANCE: The race is 200 laps (500 miles) around the 2.5 mile speedway.
TO STEP: Phase 1 ends in round 65. Phase 2 ends in round 130.
TV / RADIO: Fox will broadcast the race at 2:30 p.m. The broadcast starts at 1 p.m. The Motor Racing Network broadcast starts at 1.30 pm and can also be heard on mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the broadcast from MRN.
FORECAST: The wunderground.com forecast calls for a maximum of 74 degrees with a 59% chance of scattered thunder at the start of the race.
LAST YEAR: Denny Hamlin scored his second consecutive Daytona 500 win (and third overall) last February. Ryan Blaney finished second. Chris Buescher came in third. In August William Byron won, followed by Chase Elliott and Hamlin.
AT THE REAR: Cole Custer (spare car), William Byron (spare car), Ross Chastain (spare car), Brad Keselowski (spare car), Chase Briscoe (spare car), Kaz Grala (spare car), Anthony Alfredo (spare car), Martin Truex Jr. (radiator / oil cooler replacement) and Erik Jones (engine change). NOTE: According to the rulebook (single engine rule), Jones will also start at the back of next weekend’s race at the Daytona Road Course.
Starting grid: Daytona 500 starting grid
CONTENTS ON NBC SPORTS COVERAGE
What one driver calls the “best kept secret” in NASCAR
Analysis: Treatment, Risk Mitigation Key to Winning the Daytona 500
Bubba Wallace ready for the spotlight
NASCAR President Steve Phelps Talks Competition, 2022 Schedule
Kyle Busch shares details of the split with Adam Stevens
Blocking is an analogy between Daytona’s victory and defeat
5 Daytona 500 storylines to watch
Ryan Newman cannot be defined by last year’s Daytona 500 crash
Christopher Bell: “I want to be a factor”