Daytona 500 Delayed by Rain After Completing 11 Laps

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Daytona 500 was halted on Sunday after just 11 laps due to rain, shortly after President Donald Trump, in his fortified presidential vehicle known as “The Beast,” escorted the drivers around the track for two ceremonial laps.

A caution flag was waved, placing defending Daytona 500 champion William Byron in the lead.

Rain began to fall in the turns one and two area on the west side of the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

This was Trump’s second appearance at the Daytona 500, having previously attended in 2020. While leading the drivers around the track, he addressed them with enthusiasm.

“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan. I truly admire all of you,” Trump expressed. “I have no idea how you do this, but I want you to stay safe. You are incredibly talented and outstanding Americans. Enjoy your day and have a lot of fun; I’ll see you later.”

Unfortunately, once the rain began, Trump didn’t remain to witness much of the race.

NASCAR officials had earlier adjusted the race start time to 2 p.m. Eastern, moving it up by 70 minutes to account for possible rain. Forecasts indicated that rain was expected in the area between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a staggering 99% chance of precipitation. Drying the track typically takes around two hours, suggesting that the race might not continue until 7 p.m.

“ Captain America” star Anthony Mackie attended the “Great American Race” and had the honor of commanding the drivers to start their engines. Mackie had double the reason to celebrate at Daytona, as his latest film, “Captain America: Brave New World,” was on track for an impressive $100 million holiday weekend at the box office.

“Being here in person and receiving such a warm welcome is amazing,” Mackie remarked. “With my movie being number one and experiencing America’s great race, it’s phenomenal. It feels like the perfect moment where two incredible events align at just the right time. I couldn’t have wished for a better occasion.”

Fans found ways to occupy their time during the racing delay.

Sunday marked the sixth delay for “The Great American Race” in the past 14 years, highlighting an ongoing concern for NASCAR. The forecast included heavy rain and winds reaching 40 mph, and given that it takes at least two hours to dry the 2.5-mile track, participants and fans braced themselves for a prolonged wait.

This season opener, the pinnacle event of the Cup Series, has been postponed to Monday on three separate occasions: 2012, 2020, and last year. Additionally, it faced long delays of over six hours in 2014 and nearly six hours in 2021.

During delays, drivers often return to their motorhomes to wait it out.

Others take the opportunity to do live TV interviews at the Fox Sports desk, with Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing being the first to arrive for an appearance.

Race enthusiasts sought refuge under covered areas or perused the merchandise stands to stay dry. Ponchos were available for $8 at the main merchandise store, and fans eagerly purchased them from a nearby basket.