It is almost time for NASCAR’s grand season-opener, the Daytona 500, to go green under the lights of Florida. With an exciting Speedweek, the Cup Series will soon take on the 500-mile event on the 2.5-mile superspeedway with Kyle Busch leading the pack. The grandstands are once again sold out, but there will be millions of spectators watching through live TV and streaming services.

How to watch the Daytona 500?

Apart from the fans witnessing the event from the grandstands, the entire coverage will also be shown via FOX, which is responsible for many events in the season’s first half. The grand event’s pre-race show will begin at 11:30 AM, featuring many renowned faces from the sport’s history. Apart from the TV broadcast, the race can also be watched at FOXSports.com, the FOX Sports App, and FOX One.

While Amazon Prime and NBC also have streaming rights for NASCAR, they won’t be available for the Daytona race. Later, when they start broadcasting the races, fans can take up to a 30-day free trial on Amazon Prime to watch the races.

However, the race will not be streamed for free on any of the broadcasts.

What time is the Daytona 500 on TV?

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The 68th running of the Great American Race will take place at 1:30 PM ET, with the green flag scheduled for 2:13 p.m. ET. As mentioned, the pre-race show will kick off at 11:30 a.m. ET. The race timings in the surrounding country of Mexico will be one hour earlier than Eastern Time, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Owing to weather concerns, the original start time of the race was moved up by one hour. The race is set to be quite exciting. Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will mark a stunning return to the track alongside the fierce competition.

Was the timing of the Daytona 500 changed? What’s the new schedule?

The start time for the 2026 Daytona 500 was moved earlier due to the threat of bad weather. Originally scheduled to begin around 2:30 p.m. ET, NASCAR shifted it up one hour, so official programming now starts at 1:30 p.m. ET, with the green flag around 2:13 p.m. ET. This aims to help ensure the full 500-mile race can be completed before rain arrives.

Here are the key timings for the event:

• Gates/hospitality open: ~9 a.m. ET
• Pre-race coverage: ~1:30 p.m. ET on FOX
• Green flag (race start): ~2:13 p.m. ET

Will Donald Trump be present at the Daytona 500?

President Donald Trump is no stranger to the Grand Race. He was present at the track last year and was also the Grand Marshal in 2020. However, there is no confirmation of him making another appearance at the event’s 68th running this year.

Are Daytona 500 winners gifted a Rolex?

This is a common misconception. And no, Daytona 500 winners do not receive a Rolex watch as part of the official prize. Instead, the champion is awarded the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Instead, the winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, sometimes dubbed the Rolex 24, an endurance event, is gifted a Rolex watch owing to the sponsorship.

What is the prize money for the Daytona 500 this year?

While this is not publicized, earlier reports from Bob Pockrass claimed that the prize money for this year’s running of the Great American Race is $31,045,575, a whopping $1 million bump from the purse in the 2025 season.

At the same time, the sport has also not publicized the prize money that the race winner gets. The last time the figure was made public was back in 2015, when Joey Logano won a whopping $1.58 million.

Weather update for the 2026 Daytona 500

The weather is expected to range between 78° and 75° for the expected race length. As mentioned, the timing of the race has been moved to one hour earlier owing to the threat of a thunderstorm later during the evening at around 6 pm. If the race goes well at the time with less caution, the entire 200 laps will be finished under a green flag.

How much does it cost to attend the Daytona 500?

The cost of the Daytona 500 tickets can vary. When first put up for sale, the tickets ranged between $135 to $473. However, the price had changed quite a bit, with the range extending all the way over $700 earlier this week.

But the race had been sold out long before, as the trend has been for many consecutive years. The Great American Race is one of the most prestigious motorsports events in the US, and the tickets often sell out like hotcakes.

The race can sometimes run hot, owing to the average 3-hour runtime. But the fans can bring their own beer to Daytona if they comply with the rules. They should bring it in a soft-sided cooler or a clear bag under the specified size limits. Furthermore, glass bottles are strictly prohibited. Beers will also be available to purchase at the track, ranging from $12 to $14 for a 16-oz domestic beer, with premiums possibly higher.

However, people coming from outside of Florida might have to spend a lot more on suites, considering they sometimes cost more than $5,000 per person. These factors make the Daytona 500 one of the most expensive events to attend.

The history of the Harley J Earl Trophy

The Harley J. Earl Trophy is the ultimate symbol of Daytona 500 triumph, awarded annually to the winner of NASCAR’s biggest race. First presented in 1959, it is named after legendary automotive designer Harley Earl, the creator of the Chevrolet Corvette and NASCAR’s second commissioner.

The trophy, displayed at Daytona International Speedway, features Earl’s Firebird I concept car perched on top. Since 1998, winners also received a smaller replica to keep. Over time, the trophy has become NASCAR’s most coveted prize, representing victory in “The Great American Race” and a permanent place in the sport’s history.