Honestly, if you were looking for the "Great American Race" this past year, you probably noticed things felt a little more frantic than usual. Everyone wants to know exactly when is Daytona 500 in 2025 so they can plan their February around it, but 2025 threw a massive curveball that left a lot of fans scrambling.
The race was officially held on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
But here is the thing: if you showed up at the track or tuned in to FOX at the "usual" time, you were already late. NASCAR made a high-stakes call that shifted the entire energy of the weekend.
The 1:30 PM Reality Check
For years, we’ve gotten used to that mid-afternoon Sunday groove. You have your snacks ready, the grill is going, and the green flag drops while the sun is starting its slow dip. Not this time. Because of some seriously ugly weather forecasts threatening the Florida coast, NASCAR officials pulled the trigger on a schedule change just 48 hours before the event.
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The 2025 Daytona 500 start time was moved up a full hour.
Instead of the originally planned 2:30 PM ET slot, coverage kicked off at 1:30 PM ET. The green flag actually waved at approximately 2:00 PM ET. It was a race against the clouds as much as it was a race against the other drivers.
Speedweeks: The Long Game
You can't just talk about the Sunday race without looking at the gauntlet that leads up to it. Daytona isn't a one-day thing; it's a slow burn that starts on Wednesday and builds until the air is thick with the smell of high-octane fuel and expensive rubber.
- Wednesday, Feb 12: This was all about single-car qualifying. Chase Briscoe actually locked down the pole position in his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
- Thursday, Feb 13: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels. These 60-lap sprints are basically "organized chaos" to set the rest of the grid. Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric took the wins here.
- Friday, Feb 14: The Craftsman Truck Series (Fresh From Florida 250) took over the night.
- Saturday, Feb 15: A massive doubleheader with the ARCA Menards Series at noon and the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 at 5:00 PM.
Why 2025 Felt Different for Fans
If you were trying to grab tickets, you probably felt the pinch. The 67th running of the Daytona 500 was a certified sell-out weeks in advance. We’re talking over 150,000 people packed into the grandstands.
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Prices on the secondary market like StubHub and SeatGeek were kind of wild. Some grandstand seats were floating around $140, but if you wanted to be near the start/finish line, you were easily looking at $330 or more. A lot of seasoned fans actually prefer the higher seats because you can actually see the backstretch, which is basically impossible if you’re sitting right against the fence.
There was also a lot of buzz about the purse. The total prize money for the 2025 race hit a staggering $30.3 million. That is a lot of incentive to make a risky move in Turn 4.
Who Actually Walked Away with the Harley J. Earl Trophy?
When the dust (and rain) finally settled, William Byron proved why he’s becoming the new face of Hendrick Motorsports. It wasn't an easy win by any stretch. The race was a chess match of drafting lines and fuel mileage, especially with the weather concerns hanging over everyone’s heads.
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Byron managed to navigate the "Big One"—that inevitable massive wreck that usually thins out the field—and held off a charging pack that included Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon.
A Quick Look at the Top Finishers:
- William Byron (Winner)
- Christopher Bell
- Ryan Blaney
- Chase Elliott
- Bubba Wallace
It’s interesting to note that Denny Hamlin, a perennial favorite at Daytona, had a rougher outing than most expected. Superspeedway racing is basically a lottery with 200 mph stakes, and in 2025, the numbers just didn't fall his way.
Planning for the Next One
If you missed the 2025 action or you’re already looking ahead to 2026, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, the weather in Daytona Beach in February is a total coin flip. You might get 80 degrees and sun, or you might get a tropical downpour that pushes the race to Monday.
Always, always check the official NASCAR app on the Friday before the race. As we saw with the when is Daytona 500 in 2025 debacle, they aren't afraid to move the start time to beat a storm.
Also, if you're planning to go in person, book your hotel in Titusville or Palm Coast. Staying in Daytona proper during Speedweeks will cost you a small fortune and your sanity.
Your Next Steps:
- Check the 2026 schedule as soon as it drops in late summer to snag "Early Bird" ticket pricing.
- Watch the race replays on NASCAR’s YouTube channel to see how William Byron’s pit strategy actually played out during those final 20 laps.
- Sign up for track alerts on the Daytona International Speedway website so you don't get caught off guard by last-minute time changes next year.