Race Rushed Ahead to Dodge Rain: Fans React

NASCAR has moved the start of the Daytona 500 back by an hour, setting the first lap for 1:30 p. m. ET and the green flag at 2:30 p. m. This change is meant to finish the 500‑mile race before evening rain, a risk that has plagued past editions. The decision comes after the 2024 race was pushed to Monday because of a wet track, and a 2021 event that ran over six hours due to weather delays. A forecast shows a roughly 50 % chance of rain on Sunday, rising to about 90 % by nightfall. While officials hope the earlier start will keep the race on schedule, many fans feel the shift does little to prevent interruptions. They point out that cautions and crashes can still push the race into rain‑heavy periods, reducing the overall racing time.Some viewers have expressed frustration with phrases like “You clowns never learn, ” suggesting the one‑hour advance is a minimal adjustment that does not address the deeper issue of weather uncertainty. Others joke that the move might backfire, leaving the event vulnerable to a late‑day downpour. Critics also note that Daytona’s track conditions can make fuel strategy tricky, especially when cautions and weather delays increase consumption. They argue that an earlier start might actually reduce the chance for teams to complete the full distance without incident. On the track side, Kyle Busch will take the pole position for Richard Childress Racing, while William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports aims to secure a third consecutive victory. Whether the schedule tweak will protect the race from rain remains to be seen.