DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Rain may disrupt the Daytona 500 on Sunday, despite the race’s start time being moved to accommodate weather conditions.

The race is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET on Fox, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

According to The Weather Underground forecast, spectators can expect mostly cloudy conditions with a high of 82 degrees. There is an 18% likelihood of rain and wind gusts could reach 20 mph as the race commences.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will participate in the Daytona 500 for the first time as a NASCAR Cup car owner this Sunday.

As the race progresses, the likelihood of rain increases. The hourly forecast predicts a 95% chance of thunderstorms by 3 p.m. ET, followed by a 93% chance at 4 p.m. ET.

By 5 p.m. ET, the chance of rain decreases to 47%, further dropping to 20% by 6 p.m. ET, and remaining under 10% for the rest of the day.

To make the NASCAR Cup race official, it must reach the halfway point or complete Stage 2, whichever occurs first. For the Daytona 500 to be deemed official, at least 100 of the 200 laps must be completed.

Joe Gibbs Racing has introduced a new system designed to signal drivers when to leave their pit stalls, sparking discussions among competitors.

Chase Briscoe will lead the charge to the green flag for the Daytona 500 after securing the pole position, with Austin Cindric alongside him on the front row. Check out the complete starting lineup here.

Former President Donald Trump is anticipated to be present at the event, having attended the Daytona 500 in 2020 as well.

This is a glimpse into the new opportunities for many former members of Stewart-Haas Racing after the organization ceased operations last year.

Driver introductions are planned for 12:50 p.m. ET, followed by the invocation at 1:32 p.m. ET and the singing of the National Anthem at 1:33 p.m. ET. The command to start the engines is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. ET.

William Byron returns as the reigning champion of the Daytona 500.