DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR has raced on the beach at Daytona, under the lights and even around a pesky pothole. But never on a Monday — until today.
The Daytona 500 was postponed Sunday for the first time in its 54-year history after heavy rain saturated Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR officials spent more than four hours waiting for a window to dry the famed racetrack, but it never came. When the latest storm cell passed over the speedway at about 5 p.m. EST, they had little choice but to call it a day.
The 500-mile race was rescheduled for 10 a.m. MST today. It will be aired on Fox.
“This is one of the toughest things for us drivers,” polesitter Carl Edwards said. “It’s now who can really stay focused. That’s not just the drivers, that’s the pit crews, the crew chiefs, everyone, the officials. But I think we’ll be just fine.”
But today might be another test for drivers and fans.
The forecast calls for more rain. Officials are prepared to wait all day and into the night to avoid a Tuesday race, which would strain teams that must get to Phoenix for next week’s race.
“The longer runway we have tomorrow to get in the Daytona 500, the greater the likelihood for us to start and finish the event on a Monday,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. “There are certainly a lot of considerations that go into the start time decision, and we believe scheduling it for noon gives us the best opportunity for us to get the race in tomorrow.”
Eight previous Daytona 500s have endured rain delays, the latest in 2009. But never before had storms forced NASCAR’s premier event to be moved.
“I think that’s a pretty good record for NASCAR,” Edwards said. “They’ve been living right to have 53 of these and never have one postponed. That’s pretty spectacular.”
Noontime showers sent fans scattering for cover and leaving everyone in a wait-and-see mode. Puddles of water formed in parts of the infield, and many fans got drenched. Drivers retreated to their motor homes, relaxing while keeping an eye on developments. Edwards, Brad Keselowski and others took naps. Former Daytona 500 champions Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne did in-studio interviews with Fox. Another previous race winner, Ryan Newman, played with his daughter in the motor home lot.
“I guess I’m gonna have to win the first Monday Daytona 500,” driver Greg Biffle said.
